Businessman denies link with Syjuco couple
"I don't work for the Syjucos."
This was the curt reply of businessman Domingo Samuel Jonathan Ng over the allegation of provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada that he is being used by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco in several anomalous transactions.
Mejorada on Friday showed to the media a document linking Ng to Syjuco.
He presented the General Information Sheet of Nation Bank Inc., a rural bank, obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission which showed Ng as the bank's contact person and President.
Among the incorporators of Nation Bank Inc. are Syjuco's two sons, Juan Augusto J. Syjuco and Martin Augusto J. Syjuco with address at #4 Flame Tree Road, Forbes Park, Makati City.
The document also showed that almost 99 percent of shares in said bank is owned by Flame Property Holdings with address similar to that of the Syjuco sons.
"As shown in the documents, it is clear that the Syjucos own Nation Bank and Domingo Samuel Jonathan Ng is working with them," Mejorada said.
With such declaration, Mejorada said Rep. Judy Syjuco committed conflict of interest when it made as supplier of the P6.2 million worth of cellphones West Island Beverages Distributor owned by Ng.
In a press interview over the weekend Ng refused to categorically answer questions pertaining to the cellphone issue. Ng said he will only answer the issue in court.
Ng stressed he does not have any affiliation with the Syjucos and his transactions with the latter are purely business.
He also refused to elaborate more on his connection with the bank purportedly owned by the Syjucos. "It is a separate private business and it has nothing to do with the present controversy," he said.
Last Friday, Mejorada dragged Ng in another controversy when he claimed that the latter forged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) registration of his other company the West Island Computer and Electronics Distributor in order to enter into transaction with TESDA.
Mejorada showed to reporters the photocopy of the alleged "forged" DTI registration of West Island Computer and Electronics Distributor bearing the same Certificate Number and period of validity with West Island Beverages Distributor.
Mejorada could not immediately elaborate on the transaction supposedly entered into by West Island Computer and Electronics Distributor with TESDA but said the forgery was too glaring in which he is contemplating to file a case against Ng in violation of Republic Act 9184.
Mejorada said the forgery of the document was made so that Ng could qualify as supplier of computers to TESDA in a certain transaction sometime last year.
Ng admitted having supplied TESDA with computers last year but he said the transaction was above board.
As to the alleged forgery of documents, Ng denied having a hand in it.
Records show West Island Computer and Electronics Distributor was actually officially registered with the DTI on February 2006.
Mejorada the other week made public documents purporting delivery of 1,582 units of Nokia 1100 mobile phones for the barangays of the second district.
Based on documents Mejorada obtained from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) the P6.2 million worth of mobile phones was a project of Rep. Syjuco.
An invoice-receipt for property dated February 22, 2005 carried the signature of Mayor Isabelo Maquino of Sta. Barbara town allegedly acknowledging receipt of P6.2 million worth of mobile phones. But Maquino has denied signing the receipt.
The camp of Syjuco through lawyer Alex Espino also denied receiving the cellphone units and denied involvement in the transaction.
Last week, Rep. Syjuco filed libel charges against Mejorada based on published articles with the Philippine Daily Inquirer and three other local papers.
Espino said additional libel charges will be filed against Mejorada based on pronouncements he made over local radio stations.
Mejorada, on the other hand, is gathering additional documents in preparation for the cases that he will file against the Syjucos and other personalities involved in the alleged anomalous cellphone and computer transactions.