House ethics panel to investigate Singson

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives ethics committee is set to conduct its own investigation into the case of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who is on trial in Hong Kong on drug charges, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

“The case will definitely go to the ethics committee under (Bohol) Rep. (Erico) Aumentado,” Belmonte said in a text message.

Immigration authorities in Hong Kong arrested the lawmaker last July 11 for possession of 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium.

Further investigation, however, showed that he was only carrying 6.67 grams of cocaine. This allowed him temporary liberty in August after posting a HK$1-million bail.

But he was ordered to surrender his passport and was not allowed to leave the Chinese special territory until his case is resolved. He is under the custody of two Hong Kong businessmen.

Belmonte last August sent a legal team from the House of Representatives to Hong Kong to monitor the legal proceedings and assess Singson’s case to help the chamber decide on calls to have the lawmaker investigated by the ethics and privileges committee chaired by Aumentado.

Singson was not able to attend a single session at the House because he was detained before the 15th Congress opened on July 26.

Belmonte said it was necessary for the House special legal team, led by Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, to come up with an official report on the matter.

Quimbo told reporters his report included official copies of various documents from Hong Kong, including the police report, court transcripts, and results of the initial investigation of the special territory’s anti-narcotics authorities.

Singson, in a brief telephone interview with ANC from Hong Kong shortly after his release on bail, appealed to his colleagues not to prejudge him and that they just wait for the final verdict of the courts before taking any action against him.

Singson’s lawyer John Reading last month told the Wan Chai District Court of his client’s willingness to enter a guilty plea on drug charges but would want to put on record that the illegal substance found in his possession was only for his personal use and not for sale.

Reading told the Wan Chai District Court they would present three witnesses to support their argument.

“It’s not a simple drug trafficking case. Even if it’s a drug trafficking charge, we will argue that the drugs found were for his own use. This is a strong mitigating factor,” Reading said.

Wan Chai District Court Judge Stanley Chan set the hearing on the case on Jan. 26.

“The plea and legal inquiry is fixed for Jan. 26. The defendant’s bail is extended on the same terms,” Chan said.