Chavit’s son surfaces in Ilocos

Lost and found.

Richard Singson, the 36-year-old eldest son of controversial Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, has been found after being reported missing for five days.

Lawyer Imegdio Tanjuatco, a counsel for the governor, said the young Singson surfaced yesterday to his father’s relief.

"His (Singson’s) apprehensions disappeared upon learning that his son is safe. He was worried that somebody might have taken advantage of his boy and the situation," Tanjuatco said.

Singson, however, had apparently opted to keep mum on his son’s condition. The STAR tried to reach him through his cellular phone for comment last night but he was not available.

Earlier yesterday, Singson said in a radio interview that he was already able to talk with his missing son. "May kumausap lang daw sa kanyang mga tao (He said some people just talked to him)," said the governor, refusing to elaborate.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson branded as mere propaganda the reported abduction of Singson’s son.

"He (Singson) has gone out of bullets so he is resorting to these types of issues and re-issues. In fact, he has been repeating all accusations early on hurled by Col. (Reynaldo) Berroya," Lacson said.

Berroya was a former close associate of President Estrada who linked him to various forms of criminality, including alleged plots to assassinate former President Fidel Ramos. His accusations, though, were never substantiated.

Singson on Tuesday aired suspicion that the PNP was behind the reported abduction of his son, who he said had been missing since Saturday.

The young Singson, who was described by his father as a "problem child," reportedly left the LCS Building owned by his family in San Andres, Manila on Saturday and never came back.

At Malacañang, President Estrada reportedly shared Singson’s worries for his missing son.

Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said the President was alarmed since Singson was apparently blaming him for his son’s disappearance.

"He became worried because he knows that if anything bad happens to him (Singson’s son), he will be directly blamed for it," Puno said. – With Marichu Villanueva