‘It was no ambush; Chavit ran a red light’

Police stopped Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson’s vehicle for running a red light at an intersection in Manila in October 2000, contrary to Singson’s claim that it was a failed ambush, a police officer testified at the Sandiganbayan yesterday.

Chief Inspector Joseph Quian, Traffic Management Group legal division chief, told the special division hearing the plunder case against ousted President Joseph Estrada that police flagged down Singson’s GMC Suburban early in the morning at the corner of United Nations Avenue and San Marcelino street near the Western Police District (WPD) headquarters after he committed the traffic violation.

Quian, a lawyer, quoted the personal accounts of policemen who had stopped Singson and his group before they were taken to the WPD headquarters along United Nations Avenue.

"They saw this heavily tinted vehicle with a blinker at the corner of Kalaw street and Taft Avenue," he said.

Quian said the policemen radioed for backup and two patrol cars stopped Singson’s vehicle near the WPD headquarters.

Questioned about the need for backup over a simple traffic infraction, Quian said: "They found it necessary to call the commanding officer because of the VIP," he said. "Task Force Limbas chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. arrived at San Marcelino. He came from Camp Crame."

Quian said the policemen did not want to release Singson because they "felt slighted" after he refused to step from his vehicle as requested.

Eventually, Singson was given a ticket for beating the red light and possession of blinkers, he added.

Former senator Rene Saguisag and retired Manila fiscal Jose Flaminiano, Estrada’s two lawyers, said they wanted to show the anti-graft court that contrary to Singson’s claim, the policemen did not ambush him but simply stopped him for the traffic violation.

Saguisag said they would call Azurin to the stand next week as he was the one who personally took Singson to the WPD headquarters, where the governor later held a press conference to announce that he had been ambushed.

Acting deputy special prosecutor Humphrey Monteroso objected to Quian’s testimony on grounds that it was hearsay.

However, the special division justices allowed Quian to testify because Monteroso had opened the issue when he cross-examined the witness. — Delon Porcalla