Chavit says he was ready to submit affidavit for Blue Ribbon flood control hearing

Former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson expressed surprise over the deferment of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing on flood control projects, initially set for April 14. 

Among the reasons cited by that committee was that Singson had yet to submit his sworn affidavit. 

It would be remembered that Singson volunteered to testify before the committee chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

The Blue Ribbon Committee officially wrote Singson on March 25 to request him to submit his affidavit on or before April 7 and invited him to be a resource person in a public hearing on April 14. 

“…we respectfully request your honor to submit - on or before 5:00 p.m. of 7 April (Tuesday) - two (2) original copies of your affidavit (with all of its attachments)…” the letter from the committee said. 

Singson told GMA News that he was ready to submit his affidavit to the committee on April 7 but was notified on the same day by the that the hearing had been “deferred until further notice.” 

A letter from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to Singson dated April 7 said: “The Committee has deemed it necessary to reschedule the public hearing contingent on the mitigation of the current National Energy Emergency and the formal submission of your sworn affidavit, including all pertinent supporting documents.” 

Lacson was also quoted by news reports as saying that the committee had given Singson until April 7 to submit his draft affidavit but had not received a response. 

Singson, for his part, said he had nothing to do with the postponement of the hearing, 

“Wala naman silang sinabi na mag-reply ako eh, ang sabi lang mag submit lang. Noong magsa-submit na ako, may notice na…Sila nag-cancel, hindi ako,” Singson said. 

(They didn't say anything about me having to reply. They only said I should submit an affidavit. When I was going to submit, there was a notice...they were the ones who canceled, not me.)

Still, the former governor said he is willing to submit his affidavit to the committee and attend its public hearing on flood control. 

“Umaasa pa rin ako na may isang salita si Senator Lacson na tatawagin ako sa Senado para  tulungan sila,” Singson said. 

Singson supported the tandem of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte in the 2022 presidential elections. 

Recently, he declared support for Duterte’s 2028 presidential bid. — BM, GMA News