Rival seeks Ronald Singson's disqualification

A rival of Ilocos Sur congressional candidate Ronald Singson on Wednesday sought his disqualification due to his conviction for drug trafficking in Hong Kong two years ago. In his petition, Bertrand Baterina, a lawyer, said Singson is not qualified to run for the congressional post under Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code because he has been sentenced by final judgment for a crime involving moral turpitude. “Clearly, Singson was sentenced by final judgment for an act contrary to justice, modesty, or good morals, with much weight considering that at the time of his arrest and subsequent conviction, he was incumbent representative of the first district of Ilocos Sur,” said Baterina in his petition for disqualification with motion to suspend proclamation. GMA News Online was still trying to contact Singson for his comment as of posting time. Singson, 43, is running under the alliance of the Nacionalista Party and local party Bileg, while Baterina, also 43, is running under the Aquino-led Liberal Party. Singson, son of former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, was sentenced in February 2011 to a year and a half in jail for trafficking cocaine in Hong Kong. He was arrested at Chek Lap Kok International Airport in July 2010 after airport authorities discovered from his possession 6.67 grams of cocaine. The Comelec held a special election in May 2011 for the post he vacated in the House of Representatives. His younger brother, Ryan, replaced him to represent Ilocos Sur's first district. In his petition, Baterina cited a decision by Supreme Court, Eduardo T. Rodriguez vs. Comelec, recognizing a decision rendered by a foreign tribunal as a ground to disqualify a candidate in an elective position. Aside from the disqualification case, Baterina also filed a complaint against Singson for violation of Comelec Resolution 9561 for allegedly availing the services of policemen without prior consent or authority of Comelec. He said on April 20, he and his group were traversing the national highway of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, when they were asked to pull over by two motorcycle-riding uniformed policemen who were escorting Singson’s convoy. He said the mobile vehicle of Vigan police was also filled with armed SWAT personnel. Poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr refused to comment on the disqualification case, but said he will check on the supposed violation on the use of police officers in a convoy. "'Wag mo naman kaming tanungin, kapa-file lang nung kaso. Tse-checkin namin 'yung gamit ng police," he told reporters. — Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News