Sandigan OKs plea bargain for ex-Iloilo lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has allowed former Iloilo congresswoman Judy Syjuco to plead guilty to lesser offenses in connection with an allegedly anomalous P5.9-million cell phone project in 2005.

In a 16-page resolution promulgated on Sept. 1, the anti-graft court’s Third Division allowed Syjuco to enter into a plea bargain deal with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Syjuco was originally charged with graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

A graft conviction usually carries a prison term of six to 10 years and malversation from two to 14 years, depending on the discretion of the court.

The Third Division said both Syjuco and the ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor moved for the approval of the plea bargain deal.

It said the consent of the offended party or the prosecution is required in a plea bargain agreement.

The prosecution team represents the government as the offended party in the cases.

The anti-graft court clarified that the grant of the plea bargain deal between Syjuco and the prosecution should be deferred until the former lawmaker has paid the court P5.96 million in full restitution of the public fund allegedly malversed.

It directed Syjuco to submit to the court her proof of payment before she can be allowed to enter her plea to lesser offenses.

The cases stemmed from the payment of P5.96 million to a private supplier for the supposed purchase of 1,582 cell phones using Syjuco’s Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.