The Sandiganbayan junked a more than 12-year-old case against Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, Jr., the former director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

In a decision promulgated March 16, Associate Justice Efren De La Cruz dismissed the criminal case against Syjuco for Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada in 2006 before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The case pertains to the alleged malversation, misappropriation and misuse of P3.25 million for procurement of fertilizers and other farm equipment when Syjuco was still serving as congressman of Iloilo’s second district.

De La Cruz pointed out that the Ombudsman failed to resolve the preliminary investigation in a shorter period of time while also lambasting the Ombudsman for taking 12 years to determine a “probable cause.”

The decision also ordered the lifting of Syjuco’s hold departure order, which was issued in 2013./WDJ