Former Iloilo congresswoman Judy Syjuco has pleaded guilty to lower offenses and has been fined P16,000 as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Sandiganbayan in connection with an alleged anomalous cell phone project in 2005.
Former Iloilo congresswoman Judy Syjuco has returned to the government the full amount alleged in graft cases filed against her, paving the way for a plea bargain agreement that will allow her to plead guilty to lesser offenses.
The Sandiganbayan has allowed former Iloilo congresswoman Judy Syjuco to plead guilty to lesser offenses in connection with an allegedly anomalous P5.9-million cell phone project in 2005.
Sandiganbayan (File photo) MANILA - Former Iloilo 2nd District representative Judy Syjuco must pay a restitution of PH5.964 million as a pre-condition set by the prosecution before it conforms to a plea-bargaining agreement. According to the Sandiganbayan resolution dated September 1, the bargain would allow the 78-year-old Syjuco to plead guilty to the lower charges of "fraud against public treasury and similar offenses" and "failure to render account by an accountable officer" instead of the original charges of graft and malversation. The court said that while it finds the motions meritorious, it will "hold in abeyance" granting Syjuco's plea bargaining agreement filed by the prosecution and the accused until the payment of P5,965,859 as full restitution of the amount alleged in the complaints. The sum must be paid to the court, either in cash or manager's check, within five days from notice. "The approval of the said plea bargaining agreeme
Sandiganbayan The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of former Iloilo 2nd District Rep. Judy J. Syjuco and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general for field operations Santiago M. Yabut Jr. on the misuse of the former legislator’s P20 million i