Palace confident Syjuco raps vs Abad will be dismissed

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Wednesday expressed confidence that the graft charges and the recent malversation complaint filed against Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in the Ombudsman will be dismissed.

Former Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco Jr. accused Abad of committing malversation for his involvement in the defunct Disbursement Acceleration Program.

“If it’s any like the previous cases filed by Mr. Syjuco, it will most probably be dismissed,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press briefing.

“Looking at the cases he has been filing, mine included, they have all been looked not with favor by the entities that are tasked to adjudge their merits,” she added.

Valte was included in Syjuco’s petition last year, which asked the Supreme Court to declare the DAP illegal.

Earlier in the year, Malacañang likened Syjuco to “serial filer” Oliver Lozano who had been filing impeachment complaints against Aquino and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Lozano’s filed cases did not prosper.

“Well, Mr. Boboy Syjuco has been filing cases left and right. So it’s just one of his actions,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said after the former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief filed an impeachment complaint against Aquino in July.

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