Another graft charges up vs Syjuco
Provincial Administrator Manuel "Boy"
Mejorada shows to Capitol reporters the
proof that the dumptruck presently
sitting idle in a DPWH motorpool in
Cabatuan, Iloilo formerly belongs to the
Tawo kag Duta Foundation.
Photo by A.Chris Fernandez
Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada formally charged Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Administrator Auguto "Boboy" Syjuco for violation of Section 3, paragraphs (e) and (h) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) relative to the acquisition and sale of two dumptrucks belonging to his Tawo kag Duta Foundation.
Mejorada showed to Capitol reporters one of the two dumptrucks sitting at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) motorpool in Cabatuan, Iloilo last Monday.
Mejorada claimed the dumptruck with plate number WPA 306 originally belonged to the Tawo kag Duta Foundation which Syjuco acquired using his pork barrel when he was still congressman of the second district.
He said being Syjuco's chief of staff that time he learned that the second hand dumptruck was acquired at only P500,000.
Mejorada however was surprised upon knowing lately that the same dumptruck now belongs to the DPWH.
When he checked the documents he learned that the DPWH acquired the said equipment from a certain Cecilio Mamungay of Angeles City at P1.5 million.
It turned out that Mamungay bought the said dumptruck from the Tawo kag Duta Foundation for only P800,000, said Mejorada.
Mejorada believes there is a certain connection between Syjuco and Mamungay and that what actually happened was a "simulated" sale.
"In the end it was Syjuco who gained millions of pesos from the transactions," Mejorada said.
Meanwhile, the other dump truck, also bought by DPWH for P1.490 million, reportedly is still registered in the name of the Tawo kag Duta Foundation, as certified by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Iloilo City.
Mejorada said, the dumptrucks are among the several heavy equipment delivered to the DPWH in June 2004 by winning supplier Azure Builders Corp. which is based in Manila.
However Mejorada said he could not trace the records of the two other equipment -- road grader and payloader --- as of press time as it did not have registrations with the LTO.
Mejorada said he will also include in the charges Cecil Caligan, former Acting Head of the DPWH 4th District Engineering Office, and Juanito P. Tizon, President / Chairman of the Board of the Azure Builders Corp.
He believed the two have conspired with Syjuco to realize the deal.