Chavit pleads not guilty to P20-M graft case

Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson has pleaded not guilty to graft charges filed with the Sandiganbayan's Third Division stemming from his alleged anomalous use of more than P20-million in public funds in 2001.

 

The anti-graft court said Singson was conditionally arraigned on Tuesday due to his pending petition to travel abroad.

The arraignment is considered conditional since Singson currently has a pending motion to quash charges against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

The former governor is seeking permission from the anti-graft court to travel to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from May 11 to 18. His motion indicated that he will use his private aircraft to travel to the said countries, and that he will return immediately to face charges against him.

 

In April, the Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order against Singson.

 

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Singson, along with former vice governor Deogracias Victor Savellano, for graft over the supposed unlawful release of some P26,060,500 in financial assistance to Multi-Line Food Processing International Inc, which was neither a non-government organization (NGO) nor a people’s organization (PO). — Patricia Denise Chiu/RSJ, GMA News