Manila, Aug. 8 -- Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan, Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), has ordered the suspension of San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr.'s powers and control over the municipal police.

This came after Punsalan was arrested in an entrapment operation on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly accepting part of an PHP80-million bribe in exchange for a favorable resolution from the local government, as alleged by complainant Realsteel Corporation.

In a statement on Friday, Calinisan directed the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) to conduct a motu proprio (on its own initiative) investigation for the possibilit...