Rep. Ronald V. Singson Case: A Lot of Questions

Now we know that Rep. Ronald V. Singson of the first district of Ilocos Sur, charged with possessing 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of diazepam or Valium is locked up in Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institute since July 11 in Hongkong.

Reliable sources say that if Singson pleads guilty and is convicted, he may be sentenced from three to eight years plus fine or three years to life plus fine if pleads innocent but is convicted of the charge.

There are a lot of questions about the case to be asked.

First, why was there a news blackout from the day the younger Singson was collared in the former British colony till three or four days ago? Did the Philippine press intentionally do it?  Were they scared to drop the bombshell?

When the news hit the headlines, the elder Singson was initially in  a state of denial saying that they were in Mongolia.  That may be true but Mongolia is not Hongkong.   As the story develops, it is safe  now  to assume that the governor  was not honest in that statement.

How was the congressman able to pass the security area at the Manila airport with the illegal drugs in his possession? Did the authorities know his cocaine and Valium but they let him go anyway? Or are the airport authorities incompetent? What happened with the K-9 team with their sniffing dogs?

Didn't the Congressman know that what were in his pocket are illegal and that Hongkong is not the Philippines where cover up is possible because of who he is?

Congressman Singson said that he admitted culpability to let his companions proceed in their trip.Why  be dumb in admitting sin when you have nothing to do with it?

The Chinese authorities caught him with the illegal drugs in his possession. If Singson was clean; there was no reason for him to be detained. He cannot claim the evidence to be planted because they were found in his pocket and in his carry on luggage. Whether he admitted responsibility or not what were in his possession are proofs of guilt.

Rep. Singson arrived in Hongkong with an ordinary passport.  That means that he does not enjoy diplomatic immunity.  That could spell out more trouble for him.

Gov. Singson was saying that his son was duped into drugs. How could a solon and alumnus of prestigious schools such as Ateneo and La Salle have the puerile mind suggested by his father?

Apo (Mr.) Chavit has sincerely apologized to the nation and to his constituents in Ilocos Sur for the quagmire his son now immersed into but sounds very firm in letting the wheel of justice roll by not using his influence whatsoever to ease Roland’s predicament. Ordinary folks say that a son is always a son  that a  parent, although mentally ill,  still makes heaven and earth meet just to help his sibling in need. Does the wealthy governor mean that he does not care even if his son rots in jail?  If Apo Chavit helps; how, to what extent and in what form?  Hongkong is China and not the Philippines where Lady Justice can peep in her blindfold  to see the rich, influential and powerful. The Chinese don't care to punish their found-guilty officials by firing squad!

If convicted, who will represent the people of the first district of Ilocos Sur in the Lower House? Will he resign  if convicted and his erstwhile political nemesis Bertrand Ando Baterina takes his House seat or will there be special elections to choose his replacement? Will the lower House expel him? If convicted and released within the 15th Congress, will his colleagues discipline him? If so, how?  Would his conviction a ground for his  impeachment?

Once Rep. Singson served his sentence, do the Filipinos, his constituents in particular,  still trust him? What will he tell to the people  as a gesture of  contrition and how?  If given a chance to run for public office again, will he have the guts to run again?  Will the people vote for him again?

The possibility of a life sentence is great and who can imagine him surviving in prison probably with just noodles, rice buns (siopao), tea and occasional Chinese delicacies when in the country he can afford to  dine in five star hotels daily?  How did he get rich?  Your guess is as good as mine.

Everybody prays that justice will prevail but it is a fact that China has a long history of punishing the guilty regardless of who they are.

In the meantime, the questions are not to be answered but pondered upon.-30-