ALBAY – One month after civic advocate Tina Antonio-Schmitz exposed a municipal engineer’s alleged gambling during Typhoon Emong’s aftermath, La Union residents are still waiting for accountability.

San Juan municipal engineer Prudeleseo Quinsaat admitted in a letter to Mayor Mariquita Ortega that he was inside Thunderbird Casino in Poro Point, San Fernando, on July 26, claiming it was for “recreation purposes” and “to meet a seller of a generator set.” 

Antonio-Schmitz told Bulatlat that, as of this writing, Mayor Ortega has yet to issue a public response to her inquiry.

His presence at the casino drew public concern as it coincided with the province’s declaration of a state of calamity after Typhoon Emong’s intense winds and rains overwhelmed key infrastructure, resulting in P6.5 billion in damages. 

“With public outrage over questionable DPWH flood control projects in San Juan, this incident underscores the urgent need for deeper investigation and lifestyle checks on officials handling infrastructure and land approvals,” Antonio-Schmitz wrote in a Facebook post.

The post, updated on August 22, aims to inform fellow residents who share her concern and to raise broader public awareness, including the lack of clear action or accountability surrounding it.

In San Juan, one of the most alarming incidents was a collapsed road section in Barangay Dinanum that resembled a sinkhole and swallowed a truck. In nearby Aringay town, a portion of a newly built dike in Barangay Santa Rita East collapsed. Both incidents reflected serious vulnerabilities in local infrastructure.

Under Philippine law, government officials and employees are barred from entering casinos unless it is part of their official duties. “The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713) requires public servants to avoid behavior that undermines trust in government. Gambling in casinos violates this principle and calls their judgment and integrity into question,” Antonio-Schmitz said.

According to her post, the matter has been raised to the Civil Service Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Philippine National Police. 

She asked, “Which agency takes the lead in holding government employees accountable when caught gambling? What sanctions apply, and how are they enforced? How will lifestyle checks and oversight be strengthened to address corruption risks in local DPWH-related projects?”

“This isn’t about one person,” she said. “It’s about protecting public trust, ensuring integrity in municipal offices, and making sure infrastructure projects are transparent, accountable, and corruption-free.” (DAA)