Tuesday, May 01, 2007 Syjuco: I won't retract my extort claim vs Espinos By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Augusto "Boboy" Syjuco clarified Monday that he never retracted his official statement accusing the father-and-son Alex and Al Victor Espino of extortion.
"No, I did not retract. A draft peace accord was prepared to let bygones be bygones but the elder Espino wanted a retraction that I cannot give because the extortion is true," Syjuco's text message to Sun.Star reads.
His statement came after the Espinos here in Bacolod told some mediamen that they will soon reveal Syjuco's retraction on the previous statement the Tesda director sent to various media entities both in Bacolod and Iloilo Friday night last week.
In Syjuco's open statement, he said, "Again, I have chosen to expose the extortion of the Espinos, 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 I can rely upon in times like this."
Syjuco claimed that Alex threatened to campaign against his wife, re-electionist Judy Syjuco, unless he provides a large sum of money to fund the political campaign of his son, Al Victor, who is running for councilor in Bacolod City.
Sun.Star contacted Al Victor but the latter refused to give any comment yet.
Alex is a known political campaign manager of Syjuco when the latter joined politics in 1998.
Eight years ago, however, Syjuco fired Alex but agreed to rehire him last year, giving him the benefit of the doubt that he had changed for the better.
"Once in 1998, I had also terminated the services of Mr. Alex Espino under similar circumstance when, it will be recalled, that thereafter he went on a media blitz for five continuing years, fabricating lies to defame my character and my name. He was filled with anger and "vengeance" because I did not yield to his extortion. Then (now), history repeated itself when he provided again a large sum of money to fund the election of his son, Al Victor," Syjuco said.
With the alleged threats against his wife, Syjuco simply said, "Let us allow him (Mr. Alex Espino) 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."
Syjuco then asked, "Will the people of Bacolod City take questionable money from Alex, to elect his son Al Victor?" I think not, Syjuco ended.
