‘It was just a stunt for publicity’

VIGAN CITY — Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson described yesterday as a publicity stunt the recent move of the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance (SISA) bewailing the alleged "silence" of the Vigan-based archdiocese of Nueva Segovia on the "corruption issues" it has raised against Singson and some provincial officials.

Singson said that even if Church officials reacted as SISA had wanted, such a move would have no bearing on the four graft complaints that the group has filed against Singson and a number of provincial officials in the Office of the Ombudsman.

"Pang-publicity lang nila yan (That’s for publicity gimmick only)," he told reporters.

Singson alleged anew that his critics are funded by the camp of former President Joseph Estrada who was removed from power due largely to Singson’s exposé on his alleged corrupt activities.

SISA earlier claimed that the archdiocese headed by Archbishop Edmundo Abaya has not commented on the issues it has raised against Singson and that parishioners have not heard priests talking about them in the pulpits.

Singson, however, said it was not necessary for the Church to involve itself in the graft complaints which he dismissed as baseless and politically motivated.

Fr. Vicente Avila, spokesman of the archdiocese, said the Nueva Segovia Priests’ Assembly, which he heads, is carefully studying the issues and that it would take some time for them to adopt a position.