Chavit won't talk on son's arrest

MANILA, Philippines -  Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson neither confirmed nor denied his son’s alleged arrest in Hong Kong amid persistent reports that the 41-year-old congressman was currently detained at the Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution for drug-related offense.

“Di ko alam, wala pa akong alam tungkol dun (I don’t know. I know nothing about it). We’re still verifying everything,” Singson said in an interview with QTV Balitanghali.

Rep. Ronald Versoza Singson was reportedly arrested in Hong Kong on July 11 and will be appearing at the Tsuen Wan court on Aug. 19.

A report citing Hong Kong court records had it that a certain Ronald Singson was arrested at the Customs Arrival Hall of Chek Lap Kok International Airport on July 11, and yielded 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of diazepam, more commonly known under the brand-name Valium.

It could not immediately be determined if the one arrested and the Ilocos Sur first district representative were one and the same person because of a discrepancy in the spelling of their names in Hong Kong court records.

“Dapat siya (Ronald) na ang sasagot pagdating niya dito (He should be the one to answer those questions when he gets back). He is in a better position to answer those questions. Nasa edad na siya. Mas maganda siya ang sasagot (He is already of age. It’s better that he should be the one to answer),” Gov. Singson said when pressed about the reports.

He, however, confirmed that his son left for Hong Kong after a quarrel with girlfriend Lovie Poe.

It was not clear, however, if Poe, a GMA talent, was with him during the trip.

Chavit said his son, who owns Channel V Philippines, TVXBC and a poker hall in Pasig City, also flew to Macau with several friends for a concert of R&B singer Usher. Ronald and friend Jomari Yllana co-produced Usher’s recent concert in Manila.

“I don’t know the real story yet for now. Di ko pa siya nakakausap (I haven’t talked to him yet), but as a best friend and a brother, I am praying for him and his well-being,” Yllana told The STAR.

A check at the Department of Foreign Affairs yielded no information, but officials said the Singsons have not asked them for assistance.

Under the Geneva Convention, in case of an arrest, the concerned national can request his government for assistance, but the government should respect the decision if the individual does not request government help.

Singson’s colleagues at the House of Representatives were surprised by the reports that he was arrested on drug charges and said the only information they have was from the media.

Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales, who is expected to be the House majority leader in the incoming 15th Congress, said he was surprised by the news and the few lawmakers he thought might have at least some knowledge on the matter told him they have no information on the incident.

“Let’s just wait for Monday,” Gonzales said, referring to the opening of Congress.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, who once worked closely with Singson’s father as fellow governor, said he was also clueless on the incident.

Other lawmakers refused to make public statements.