BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Former congressman Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco Jr. of Iloilo’s 2nd District asserted he has never been a citizen of Canada or any foreign country.
“(W)hen I subscribed under oath during each of all the four times that I ran for congressman in Iloilo, I was not a citizen of any foreign country, then, now or ever,” Syjuco told Panay News.
He was reacting to a Lapsus Calami item in this newspaper on August 8 claiming that he is a permanent resident of Canada.
The ex-solon, who lost to now Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta in the 2013 elections, is a holder of Canadian Immigration Identification Record NO-OH291625, according to the popular column
His wife, former congresswoman Judy Syjuco, is also a Canadian citizen, according to Lapsus Calami.
Both own an apartment, 34.85 acres of farmland in Richmond and a commercial building in Surrey, Canada, the column added.
However, the former secretary general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) clarified that when Judy ran in 2004 and 2007 for a congressional seat, “dual citizenship was already passed into law.”
“(M)y wife had satisfied all the requirements that she should not be a resident of any foreign country,” added Syjuco.
Syjuco slammed the August 4 column, which also stated that his “children and grandchildren” were also Canadian citizens.
“Truly, your slip was showing, and your pen needs repair,” he said./PN
