Drilon mulls perjury raps vs Syjuco

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon is mulling filing perjury cases against former Iloilo congressman Augusto Syjuco Jr. after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) junked Syjuco’s vote-buying allegations against him in connection with the May 2013 elections.

“This is clear proof that Mr. Syjuco would do everything to put my name in a bad light,” he said.

Drilon, vice chairman of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), said Syjuco fabricated lies and baseless accusations against him.

“Syjuco would continue to do so just to satisfy his selfish motives of destroying my reputation and credibility as a public servant,” he added.

Drilon said he would avail of the right any ordinary citizen has under the law to protect his name, like filing a perjury case against Syjuco.

Syjuco alleged that Drilon – along with several others, including incumbent Iloilo 2nd district Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta and Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor – resorted to various methods of vote-buying to secure Gorriceta’s victory. 

Syjuco lost to Gorriceta during the 2013 local elections by a margin of 20,906 votes.

Gorriceta, an LP member, garnered 44,310 votes, while Syjuco, who ran under the United National Alliance (UNA) party of Vice President Jejomar Binay, only got 23,404 votes – lower than the 30,773 votes received by another candidate, Kiting Cabaluna, who ran as an independent.

In a seven-page decision, the Comelec said it finds no reversible error in the findings and recommendations of the Office of the Regional Election Director of Iloilo, which has earlier decided that Syjuco’s complaint was unsupported by evidence that would substantiate his allegations.

Drilon expressed his gratitude to the Comelec for a speedy resolution of the case.

He said Syjuco has filed approximately a dozen malicious and unfounded graft and plunder cases against him before the Office of the Ombudsman, including graft and plunder cases against him and President Aquino in connection with the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center.

Drilon said he is willing and ready to answer the malicious and baseless allegations being hurled against him as he has nothing to hide and will not hide anything.