“We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the sunlight, out of the shadow, out of the closet, deal with it, treat people, have centers where people can get the necessary help.” –Rep. John Lewis

It took the recent death of former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Augusto ‘Buboy’ Syjuco, Jr. to convince critics that he had been “slowly dying” from leukemia. Political foes claimed he and his wife, former Iloilo second district Rep. Judy Syjuco, were using a “sickness story” to wiggle out of graft and corruption charges. They accused the couple of “dangling” the illness to create an image that he was unfit to stand trial and trying to appeal to people’s emotions.
After Syjuco lost support from local elected officials, he spent most of his time in Metro Manila focused on clearing his name following a series of graft cases. He backed then-presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and filed graft cases against former President Benigno S. Aquino III and Senator Franklin Drilon in an effort to be noticed by the media.
He was said to have been bothered by a lack of attention.
It was nearly a year ago when the Sandiganbayan Third Division approved the couple’s motion that allowed them to travel to Singapore in order for the former TESDA head to undergo chemotherapy.
Once the most popular political couple of Iloilo, the Syjucos faced various cases before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged anomalous use of public funds including the awarding of certain TESDA scholarships, a purchase of over 1,500 mobile phones, and supposed implementation of a district-wide poultry project.
Syjuco and former Department of Agriculture-Region VI Director Eduardo Lecciones were convicted of fraud in relation to a P4.3 million cash grant. They were also found guilty of failing to render accounts along with a conflict of interest.
The P17,000 in penalties were considered a “slap on the wrist” by his political enemies.
Instead of waiting for a trial, the two plead guilty.
As to his other cases, they are expected to “die” naturally following the former public official’s demise.
Rest in peace, Secretary Syjuco.

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Alex P. Vidal, who is based in New York City, used to be the editor for two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ