News Briefs: March 3, 2017

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Stories from across the Philippines on Friday, March 3


Ex-Iloilo congresswoman Syjuco stands trial for pork barrel misuse

 

MANILA – Former Iloilo Representative Judy Syjuco will stand trial for the charges of graft and malversation of public funds, according to a Sandiganbayan Third Division resolution issued on February 27.

The charges are in relation to her alleged involvement in a fraudulent P5.9 million procurement deal from 2004, where she used her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The charges concerned an alleged fake procurement of 1,582 mobile phone units in 2004. The units were purchased with Syjuco’s PDAF, supposedly for distribution in 8 municipalities in the second district of Iloilo. However, the phones were not delivered to the intended beneficiaries, and procurement laws were violated due to a lack of public bidding.  

West Island Beverages Distributor, a distributor of mobile phone cards, acquired the supply contract. The Sandiganbayan noted, however, the affidavit of a sales executive of Smart Communications saying West Island did not purchase any Nokia 1100 phones between December 2004 and February 2005, the period material to the case. The serial numbers listed by West Island also turned out to be phone units sold by Smart to other distributors.

While Syjuco has already posted bail, the Sandiganbayan ordered arrest warrants be issued against former Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) bids and awards committee chairman Domingo Reyes Jr, vice chairman Elmer Soneja, and members Rebecca Cacatian, Ildefonso Patdu Jr, Geronimo Quintos, and Venancio Santidad. DOTC Inspector Marcelo Desiderio Jr, storekeeper Antonio Cruz, and DOTC technical inspector Danilo Dela Rosa are also set to be issued arrest warrants.  

Private defendant Domingo Samuel Jonathan Ng, owner of West Island and the supposed supplier of the phones, is also facing possible arrest. – Rappler.com  

 


Anti-graft court to proceed with trial of former Pagcor chief Genuino

 

MANILA – Efraim Genuino, the former chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), failed to have 4 pending perjury charges with the Sandiganbayan dismissed.

Genuino is accused of not disclosing a number of valuable properties under his and his wife’s name in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2002 to 2005. Prosecutors said he undervalued his assets, as he left out information regarding a few of his properties: 4 lots in Makati City, one in Muntinlupa City, and another two in Laguna.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division denied his Motion for Judicial Determination of Probable Cause as none of the grounds he raised was valid. The anti-graft court wrote in its resolution: “After a careful study of the records of these cases as well as the arguments presented by the parties, the Court finds the subject motion unmeritorious. (T)he Court finds the existence of probable cause that the crime of perjury…has been committed and that the accused-movant is probably guilty thereof.”

Genuino’s arraignment has following the dismissal of his motion has been set for April 25 at 1:30 pm. This is the second adverse ruling against Genuino this year. – Rappler.com 

 

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