Syjuco warned, 'retract exrtort charge or else...'
Secretary Augusto "Boboy" Syjuco is not running for elective office yet latest (mis) developments in Iloilo's Second District put the Ilonggo Secretary, Director-General of the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) into the limelight.
This, after news came out of a serious falling-out between Syjuco and his aide, lawyer Alex Espino which later led to speculations of an Espino transfer to the Syjuco's erstwhile opponent, congressionable Cecilia Capadosa.
In a two-paged statement sent to The News Today (TNT), Syjuco made official the declaration that Espino is no longer in his employ. And it did not stopped there.
The TESDA Director-General further charged that his once trusted aide has resorted to extortion and because he refused to give in, the concerted effort now to destabilize the campaign and reelection bid of Congresswoman Judy Jalbuena-Syjuco.
"Let us allow him to let loose the fury of his malicious passions upon my person. My own character will stand firm as my people of the 2nd District of Iloilo who have been served from my love and services will readily distinguish as they did in 1998 my truth from his malice, my facts from fiction and good from evil," excerpts of the Syjuco statement went. "Again, I have chosen to expose the extortion of the Espinos and to be open and transparent and to be forthright to my people of the 2nd District of Iloilo whose loyalty I know I deserve and can rely upon in times like this."
Yesterday morning heard Espino who granted radio interviews since Friday's fall-out. Espino talking over Bombo Radyo yesterday gave his former boss the ultimatum to retract his statement with deadline set on Monday.
Syjuco when asked about the retraction said none has been made but made mention of a "peace accord" to "let bygones be bygones."
Meantime, talks abound of a substitution in the offing that will reportedly see a comeback of the Director-General given the events that took place over the weekend.
The lady solon's reelection bid has also been subject of a complaint following her use of "Boboy Syjuco" as official nickname.