‘I will be forced to run for governor’

VIGAN CITY — "I am challenged."

Thus said former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, apparently irked by allegations hurled against him following the March 31 ambush here of local radioman and former provincial board member Efren Rafanan.

"I will be forced to run for governor," said Singson in an interview at his residence in Barangay Baluarte here yesterday morning.

He admitted though that he wanted to retire from politics, which he described as "dirty," and lead a normal life.

Last Wednesday, anti-Singson groups led by the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance (SISA) and the newly formed March 31 Movement, as well as the political opposition, demanded that Singson be probed for the Rafanan ambush.

Rafanan’s wife Evelyn, son Raffy Brian, brother Dennis and security aide Elgin de Ocampo were killed in the ambush. Rafanan and his daughter Renelyn were wounded.

Singson has denied having a hand in the ambush. He attributed the accusations to people identified with the camp of former President Joseph Estrada.

He said they wanted to get back at him for triggering the downfall of Estrada who he had accused of receiving payola from jueteng operators.

He said the groups criticizing him "are only small and noisy," and are allegedly funded by Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

He said he is thinking of throwing his hat into the gubernatorial race again if only to prove his innocence.

Singson, who has been in power as Ilocos congressman and governor for almost three decades, shrugged off any strong contender should he run next year, not even Rafanan who is being touted as the opposition’s possible gubernatorial bet.

Rafanan, Ilocos Sur chairman of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, lost to Singson’s protégé, Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano, in the 2001 elections. His decision to run caused his political break-up with Singson.

Singson recalled that when he ran — and won — as governor in 1997, he got more votes than his six rivals combined.

Meanwhile, calls for him to resign have similarly irked Savellano.

"Why should I resign? Dalawa lang silang nagsasabi niyan (Only two persons are saying that) when the fact is I was voted by many people," he said.

He was referring to former first district Rep. Mariano Tajon and SISA chairwoman Estrellita Cordero, who both demanded that Savellano quit his post, arguing that the still unsolved Rafanan ambush has tainted his administration.

"Come and fight me in 2004. It’s only several months away," he said.

Savellano asked the opposition not to muddle the issue and allow the investigation to take its course. — With Teddy Molina