House team may go to Hong Kong to monitor Singson case

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is planning to send a team from the House of Representatives to monitor the court proceedings in Hong Kong on the drug case involving Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who remains in detention in the Chinese territory.

Belmonte told reporters that very little information is reaching the Philippine government regarding Singson’s arrest and his father, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, has not spoken much on the case.

Lawmakers who are expected to comprise the House ethics committee said they are likely going to investigate Singson for the incident in Hong Kong once the panel is convened.

“I’m thinking of sending a representative to go to the hearing of his case in Hong Kong as an observer for the House,” Belmonte told reporters. “Maybe just like an observer. Right now, we hardly know anything about the case. I get the information from the media.”

He said he was able to speak with Singson’s father recently on the case but not much information or a request for help was forthcoming from the governor.

Singson was arrested on July 11 after authorities in the Hong Kong International Airport found him carrying 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of the sedative Valium.

Singson was charged with drug trafficking pursuant to Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drug Ordinance in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy’s Courts. Singson on July 22 appeared in court with private counsel and sought bail but this was rejected.

He also declined the assistance offered by the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong.

The hearing of the case was set on Aug. 19 as the court awaits the report of Hong Kong authorities on its analysis of the drugs found in Singson’s possession.

Belmonte said he would either send members from the House Secretary General’s office or lawmakers.

“But I also asked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to be sure that there are representatives of the Philippine government present (during the hearings),” he said.