Another graft case filed vs Syjuco

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman filed yesterday another graft case against former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director-general Augusto Syjuco Jr. with the Sandiganbayan.

Syjuco was charged this time for his alleged involvement in the purportedly anomalous purchase in 2008 of career guidance books for school children worth P9.25 million.

The purchase of 250,000 copies of the book “Salabat for the Filipino Soul” reportedly did not undergo public bidding.

Graft probers said Syjuco resorted to the alternative limited source bidding when TESDA’s former bids and award committee (BAC) awarded the project to Grand C Graphics Inc.

The Commission on Audit (COA) noted that “there was irregular expenditure in the procurement for the printing of Salabat,” which is why it was “disallowed in audit” on May 21, 2008.

State auditors added that limited source bidding could not be employed because the books to be purchased then were “not a highly specialized type of goods” and that “the requirement for resorting to limited source bidding was not complied with.”

COA also questioned the processing of the payment, delivery and inspection of goods, which were completed only in one day.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said TESDA’s former BAC chairman Santiago Yabut Jr.; vice chairman Clifford Paragua; members Marjorie Docdocil, Brenda Furagganan and Ma. Lourdes Villanueva; procurement and supply division chief Juanito Belda; senior administrative assistant III Glynis June Capoquian-Sionosa; and Grand C representatives Alfredo Ching Jr., Nelson Ching, Rene Rufino and Fahmi Asuncion should also be indicted.

The Office of the Ombudsman said charges for falsification of public documents also filed against Syjuco and his fellow respondents for the same transaction were dismissed for lack of probable cause.