Rep. Singson to colleagues: Wait for court ruling first before ethics case

Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson on Wednesday appealed to his colleagues at the House of Representatives to wait for the decision of the Hong Kong court handling his drug-related case before filing an ethics case against him. Singson, in a report by GMA News’ Maki Pulido, said his fellow lawmakers should wait for the final court ruling on his drug case before starting any moves to suspend or remove him from the House of Representatives. Singson’s father, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit" Singson, said in a separate interview that House members should not judge his son before the Hong Kong court releases its decision on the case. “Hinihingi ko sa kanila (congressmen) na tapusin muna ang kaso bago sila mag-ingay diyan sa Kongreso (I'm asking these congressmen to wait for the court ruling first before making such pronouncements)," he told GMANews. TV in a phone interview, referring to suggestions to suspend his son from Congress.

Court proceedings were reset to Jan. 31 after Judge Stanley Chan of the District Court in Wan Chai inhibited from the case. He reportedly decided to turn over the case to a new judge after receiving a letter from an unidentified overseas Filipino worker containing damaging allegations against the Singsons. He reportedly said the letter may affect his impartiality in the case. Singson was arrested upon arrival at the Chek Lap Kok International Airport on July 11 for allegedly carrying 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of diazepam, commonly known as Valium. The Ilocos Sur lawmaker was charged with trafficking of dangerous drugs at the Tsuen Wan Magistracy's Courts, pursuant to the Hong Kong Dangerous Drug Ordinance. He admitted to reporters on Wednesday that he used to take illegal drugs but denied that he was a drug trafficker. "I used to [take drugs], if not I wouldn't be in this position," he said. Singson was supposed to plead guilty to a lesser drug offense before the Hong Kong court on Wednesday to enable him to post bail and go back to the Philippines. Last Monday, some of Singson’s colleagues asked him to resign from his post in case he pleads guilty to the drug case. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has also earlier said that it is “ideal" for Singson to resign after he was implicated in the drug offense in the Chinese territory. - KBK, GMANews.TV