Syjuco faces more graft charges

MANILA, Philippines–The Ombudsman has filed more graft charges against Augusto Syjuco Jr. and other officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) that the former Iloilo representative used to head, for the “irregular” procurement of thousands of career guidance books for school children that cost the government P9.25 million.

According to the charges, then Tesda director general Syjuco and members of the agency’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) procured 250,000 copies of the career guidance book titled “Salabat for the Filipino Soul” for P9.25 million without public bidding.

The Ombudsman said the Commission on Audit (COA) in May 2008 had concluded that “there was irregular expenditure in the procurement for the printing of Salabat” and disallowed the project that was awarded to Grand C Graphics Inc.

Tesda could not resort to “limited source bidding” since the books were not a “highly specialized type of goods,” according to COA.

State auditors also found suspicious that the processing of payment, delivery and inspection of goods were all completed within a day.

Syjuco was charged with violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) for causing the government undue injury while giving a private party unwarranted benefits or advantages in government concessions.

Also charged were BAC chairman Santiago Yabut Jr., vice chair

Clifford Paragua, members Marjorie Docdocil, Brenda Furagganan and Ma. Lourdes Villanueva; procurement and supply division chief Juanito Belda and senior administrative assistant Glynis June Capoquian-Sionosa, as well as Alfredo Ching Jr., Nelson Ching, Rene Rufino and Fahmi Asuncion, of Grand C Graphics.

In August last year, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of graft charges against Syjuco and his wife, Judy, also a former Iloilo representative, for the anomalous disbursement and use of their pork barrel funds amounting to P20 million.

The Ombudsman said the Syjucos coursed their P20 million Priority Development Assistance Fund through Tesda, which in turned released the funds to a Syjuco founded nongovernment organization.