Singson: I won’t allow such a thing to happen

VIGAN CITY — "I would not allow (such a thing) to occur, especially in Vigan."

With these words, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson vehemently denied yesterday any involvement in last Monday’s ambush here of radioman and former provincial board member Efren Rafanan.

Singson lashed at lawyer Estelita Cordero, president of the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance (SISA) who earlier had linked him to the ambush which left four people dead — Rafanan’s wife Evelyn, son Raffy Brian, brother Dennis and security aide Angelo de Ocampo.

Rafanan was wounded in the attack, along with his daughter Renelyn.

"All fingers point to our enemy," Cordero was quoted as saying the other day.

"This woman has no credibility," Singson said. "She is a lawyer of former President Estrada and it is obvious that she is doing this to destroy me and satisfy their hate-Chavit agenda."

Police are still facing a blank wall on the ambush, in the absence of witnesses, said Superintendent Antonio Rabuya, Vigan police chief.

Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano has offered a P200,000 reward for any information leading to the solution of the case. Singson, for his part, has put up an additional P100,000.

Singson claimed that Cordero is nurturing plans to run for Ilocos Sur governor next year under Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). She reportedly heads the PMP’s provincial chapter.

Singson alleged that Cordero, who hails from Narvacan town, is "protecting" the interests of the former President, being a "rabid Estrada supporter."

He expressed surprise how Cordero came up with her "suspects," alleging that she had called up newspaper offices moments after Rafanan and his family were ambushed.

"This only means that she has lost any sense of objectivity and would readily pounce on her enemies when the opportunity arises even at the expense of truth and fair play," Singson said.

He said that for him to instigate the ambush is "farfetched."

"I would not allow it to happen, in the first place," he said, explaining that he had been through it when he was fighting the Crisologos in the early 70s.

"I like my province to be spared from those incidents that have stalled development for years," he said.

"I would not allow (them) to occur, especially in Vigan which is now fast developing as a progressive business center and tourist destination," he added.

Although Rafanan has been hitting him and the provincial government in his radio commentaries, Singson said he has not complained.

"I did not go to court for his libelous remarks nor took them seriously," he said. "For such is the price of being in the public service. You have to know how to take criticisms in stride."

Singson said he and Rafanan, his former protégé, parted ways when he opposed the candidacy of Savellano, his (Singson’s) gubernatorial candidate, in the 2001 elections.