Ex-Tesda chief Syjuco denies anomalies in PDAF-funded projects

Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Augusto Syjuco Jr. on Friday denied there were anomalies in projects funded by the pork barrel allocations of his wife, former Iloilo Rep. Judy Syjuco.

 

"The unkindest cut of all is their brashness to include my wife, who is the holiest of innocents," Syjuco said. "She served as congressperson for two terms, as an absolute oblation of holy service to do her share for God and country."

 

He issued the statement on Friday after the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against him and his wife before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly using pork barrel funds for an unauthorized project.

 

According to the Ombudsman, Rep. Syjuco released the P20 million to Tesda, which was headed by her husband, under her Education for All Project.

 

In a memorandum of agreement signed by Rep. Syjuco, Tesda deputy director general Santiago Yabut Jr., and Maria Nela Yniesta, president of Tagipusuon Cooperative on December 23, 2005 designated Tagipusuon to implement the project.

 

Mr. Syjuco, on the other hand, issued Tesda Order No. 1C-series of 2006 identifying elementary and high school students in Iloilo's second legislative district, which is represented by his wife at the House of Representatives, as beneficiaries.

 

A large portion of the money reportedly went to the purchase of notebooks, bags, uniforms and other school supplies for the students.

Some P1.69 million went to overhead and administrative expenses of the Tagipusuon while P916,000 was used to pay the salaries and benefits of the NGO's officials and employees.

 

But according to the Office of the Ombudsman, elementary and high school students are outside the jurisdiction of Tesda.

Project running since 1997

 

However, Syjuco stressed that they have been doing the project since 1997, and have since helped lessen the elementary school dropout rates of 34 percent, and high school dropout rates of 23 percent.

 

"That's a total of 57 percent dropouts from elementary and high school, leaving only 43% of potential workers for Tesda and college," he added. "As any blind person could see, this already much-diminished base of human resources must be preserved and improved, to reach Tesda for the higher-paying technical vocational occupations that require at least high school graduates."

 

Aside from the Syjucos, Yabut and Yniesta are also facing graft charges over the project.

'Malicious political persecution'

 

Syjuco said the filing of charges against him and his wife may be part of the "malicious political persecution" by President Benigno Aquino, Senate President Franklin Drilon, and Budget chief Florencio Abad.

 

"This is one of the five cases that Noy (Aquino), Drilon, and Abad have caused to be filed against me," he said. "It is simply their perverted act of malicious political persecution, through vexatious and unjust prosection by their partial Ombudman."

 

He noted that he has already filed a case against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales at a United Nations tribunal over her alleged bias against him.

 

"This administration led by the unholy trinity, Mang Noy, Drilon, and the Ombudsman, have been persecuting me through prosecution," he added.

 

He also noted that while the government has filed five charges against him, he has filed 16 cases against the three.

 

"I was the first person to file my Complaint with the Supreme Court against the fake DAP, and we won," he said. "I also filed my Complaint at the Supreme Court against PDAF, and we won this as well."

 

"I filed for a Writ of Kalikasan at the Supreme Court against their Jalaur Dam, and the Supreme Court issued that Writ of Kalikasan," he added. "So thus far, I have won three, and I have a remaining twelve cases yet against them."

 

The Syjuco couple are facing two counts of graft. A P30,000 bail bond has been set for each defendant for each count of graft.

 

The filing of the case late week follow the filing of graft and plunder charges filed against three senators — Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. — for allegedly diverting their pork barrel allocations to non-existent NGOs. — Amanda Fernandez/JDS, GMA News