Singson sentenced to 1 year, 6 months in HK prison

HONG KONG – Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson was sentenced yesterday to 18 months imprisonment for trafficking in 6.67 grams of cocaine.

Wan Chai District Court Judge Joseph Yau reduced the sentence from the previous prison time of two years and six months after the lawmaker pleaded guilty and also in consideration of his good personal background and the sanctions he might receive from the House of Representatives.

Yau accepted Singson’s defense that the illegal drugs seized from him last July 11 were for his personal consumption and not for commercial trafficking but refused to lower the charge to drug possession because of the quantity.

Aside from the cocaine, two tablets of the narcotic nitrazepam were found on Singson. Yau pointed out that he could have shared the drugs with his companion Benjamin Liobing. The lawmaker was teary-eyed as the judge explained his sentence. He occasionally bowed his head and looked at his family in the court gallery.

Present in court were his father, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, mother Evelyn, six siblings and movie star girlfriend Lovi Poe.

The women cried after the hearing, while his father admitted that they expected the ruling.

Before the hearing, Singson apologized to the Filipinos and to his fellow lawmakers.

“I would like to apologize for the crime that I have committed. I am very sorrowful and remorseful for what I have done. As you can see, I am praying the price for it,” Singson told reporters. “It’s not easy to go through this, being away from my loved ones. There is nothing I want much more than to have a conclusion for this event of my life.”

Singson had spent 40 days at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Center after he was arrested last July 11 at the customs arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport for possession of 14.8 grams of drug powder containing 6.67 grams of cocaine.

The seized cocaine had a retail value of HK$15,791.60 (P89,634.28.)

The court allowed Singson to post a bail of HK$2-million (P11.3 million) last Aug. 19 on the condition that he would stay in Hong Kong for court appearances.

The 42-year-old lawmaker previously told the court he went on a drugs-and-gambling binge after arguing with his girlfriend at a concert in Manila. He was arrested while on his way to Macau for a poker tournament.

Addiction experts who testified in Singson’s sentencing hearing earlier this month disagreed that he has a serious drug habit.

The House ethics committee is meeting on Tuesday to discuss if expulsion will be included in the sanctions to be slapped on Singson.

Committee chair Bohol Rep. Enrico Aumentado said they are waiting for the official copy of the court ruling.

Marikina Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo said the House cannot automatically expel Singson but the decision of the Hong Kong court will have great influence on the ethics case against him.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Singson should resign or the House will have to expel him.

Camarines Norte Rep. Elmer Panotes, however, said Singson deserves a second chance because he appeared to have felt a “genuine remorse” for his misdemeanor.

Singson’s father said the family is considering to let his son resign but asked that a special election be held to fill the vacant House seat.

The Ilocos Sur governor said they will no longer appeal the decision.

“A formal announcement will be made on this by Ronald,” he said. – With Paolo Romero, Teddy Molina