Syjuco, 11 others charged with graft

Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco Jr. and 11 others were charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan over the more than 9-million printing cost of copies of a book.

The case is one of several graft cases the Ombudsman intends to file against Syjuco, a former congressman of the 2nd District of Iloilo, over irregularities at the TESDA during his time as director general.

Aside from Syjuco, charged with violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) are former TESDA officials – Santiago Yabut Jr., Bid and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman; BAC vice chairman Clifford Paragua; procurement and supply division chief Juanito Belda; senior administrative assistant III Glynis June Capoquian Sionosa; and BAC members Marjorie Docdocil, Brenda Furagganan, and Ma. Loudes Villanueva.

Also charged were officials of Grand Graphics, Inc. – its president Alfredo Ching Jr. vice president Nelson Ching, and representatives Rene Rufino and Fahmi Asuncion.

The 11 accused were charged with graft in connection with TESDA's printing of 250,000 copies of Salabat for the Filipino Soul Book II back in 2006.

The Ombudsman said the TESDA officials at that time showed manifest partiality and evident bad faith when they gave unwarranted benefit to Grand Graphics in printing the book at the total amount of

9,175,000.

The Ombudsman pointed out that the Commission on Audit (COA) found the deal irregular since it was done without competitive public bidding as required under Section 10, Article IV of the Government Procurement Act.