Ex-lawmaker asks Sandigan to suspend trial

MANILA, Philippines - Former Iloilo Second District congresswoman Judy Syjuco has asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend her trial over an alleged anomalous cell phone project.

In a six-page motion released yesterday,  Syjuco said the Sandiganbayan Third Division should wait for the investigation of one of her co-accused by the Office of the Ombudsman.

In its ruling on March 1, the third division ordered the suspension of the trial of Jonathan Ng, owner of West Island Beverages Distributor (West Island), after it was found out that he was not investigated before the case was filed.

The ombudsman was given 60 days to submit its report.

“The outcome of the preliminary investigation concerning Ng can affect the charges against Syjuco,” her motion read.

The complaints could “no longer stand” if the ombudsman would not find probable cause to charge Ng, it said.

Syjuco, Ng and nine other respondents, including former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), were charged with graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. The charges stemmed from the alleged payment of P5.9 million to West Island for the supposed purchase of 1,582 units of Nokia 1100 using Syjuco’s Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel in 2005.

The ombudsman said the payment was made despite the non-delivery of the cell phones to their intended beneficiaries in Western Visayas.

Graft probers said there was no public bidding, adding that West Island was not an accredited supplier of cell phones.

Syjuco earlier denied the charges, saying the DOTC did not release the funds for the supposed project.