Don't prejudge me, Rep. Singson asks colleagues

MANILA, Philippines – Rep. Ronald Singson asked yesterday his colleagues in the House of Representatives not to prejudge him because “there is something deeper than what have been told in news reports regarding this drug case.”

Singson said he holds no rancor against his fellow congressmen who had earlier expressed alarm that his involvement in the case would tarnish the image of the House and asked for an investigation by the ethics committee.

However, he asked his colleagues to wait for the final verdict of the courts before taking any action on him.

Singson, who was not able to attend a single session at the House as he was detained before the 15th Congress opened on July 26, said he did not expect to be granted bail because of the tough drug law in Hong Kong.

He also apologized to his father, family and friends for the problems caused by his incarceration.

While the gravity of his offense may have been downgraded and resulted to his temporary freedom, the young lawmaker still faces possible conviction and a jail term in Hong Kong, according to Marikina Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo.

Quimbo, who witnessed the bail hearings on Singson’s case as an observer from the House of Representatives, also cited the integrity of Hong Kong’s judicial system as one of the best in Asia.

He noted the speed of the Tsuen Wan Magistrate’s Court in handling Singson’s drug case since immigration authorities in Hong Kong arrested him last July 11 for carrying 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium.

Quimbo said that Judge Ernest Lin of the Magistrate’s Court No. 1 considered during the bail hearings the findings of the Hong Kong anti-narcotics authorities that the actual weight of the cocaine in Singson’s possession was only 6.67 grams, allowing the Filipino lawmaker to post HK$1 million bail for his temporary liberty.

While the gravity of the charges could be downgraded, Quimbo said he heard Lin sternly warn Singson in the presence of his private lawyer John Reading that he is accused of a serious criminal offense.

Media reports said Singson could face at least three years in prison if convicted on drug charges.

Singson was not allowed to leave Hong Kong until the court handed down its final verdict on his case and was also directed to submit all his travel papers to authorities to ensure that he wont jump bail.

Quimbo said Singson would be under the custody of two Hong Kong businessmen-friends of his father and would be required to report to certain police stations every day for at least two hours.

House probe awaits Singson

He said he was not able to talk to Singson or his father, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, since his appearance during the bail hearings on Thursday morning.

But it was reported that the governor was elated over the court’s decision to grant his son bail.

An ABS-CBN report identified the two Hong Kong businessmen as Annie Shie and Derick Wong. Shie was present during the bail hearing, the news report said.

Singson’s arraignment was set on Sept. 7, the report said. He was released from detention Thursday night after his two Hong Kong private custodians posted the bail.

Quimbo was scheduled to arrive in Manila late yesterday afternoon from Hong Kong and is expected to submit a formal report to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. next week on the matter.

Belmonte said he was anticipating Quimbo’s report and justified dispatching a mission to observe the legal proceedings on Singson’s drug case.

The Speaker said it was necessary to have an official report that the chamber can act on, especially in light of some calls to have Singson investigated by his colleagues in the House ethics committee.

“We’re really there as an observer,” Belmonte said in a telephone interview. “We do not want getting all our information only from the newspapers.” – Teddy Molina