Sandigan OKs Syjucos’ Singapore trip

MANILA, Philippines — The  Sandiganbayan has granted the request of former Iloilo lawmakers Augusto Syjuco and his wife  Judy to travel to Singapore from Jan. 22 to Feb. 2.

In separate resolutions issued by the anti-graft court’s first, second, third and fifth divisions, the Syjuco couple were ordered to appear before the clerk of court within five days after their return to the country and present their respective passports bearing the stamps of their departure and arrival.

The court divisions said the failure of the couple to return to the country would be sufficient ground to forfeit their bond and issue a warrant for their arrest.

Syjuco said he is suffering from “advanced myelodysplastic syndrome” and was advised by his physician to undergo chemotherapy at the Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center of the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Syjuco said his doctor Patrick Tan told him that there is a “high chance” that his medical condition would progress into leukemia.

Judy said she would accompany her husband during his chemotherapy sessions.

The Sandiganbayan has yet to decide on the motion of the couple to allow them to return to Singapore on Feb. 22, March 22, April 22, May 22, June 22 and July 22 to complete Syjuco’s chemotherapy sessions. 

The couple are each facing two counts of graft in connection with the alleged misuse of Judy’s P20-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel in 2006.

Based on the complaints, Judy’s PDAF was coursed through the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority when Syjuco was its chairman.

The Tagipusuon Foundation Inc., a non-government organization chosen to implement Judy’s Education for All Project, was allegedly owned by Syjuco.

Syjuco is facing another graft case for allocating 999,900 of his PDAF also to Tagipusuon in 2004 during his term as Iloilo congressman.