Chavit belies claims of defense witness

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson laughed off yesterday what he described as the "continuing efforts" of the defense panel in the plunder trial of former President Joseph Estrada to impugn his testimony that led to the filing of the impeachment case against the ousted President.

In the Sandiganbayan hearing the other day, Chief Inspector Joseph Quian, the legal division chief of the Traffic Management Group, said that contrary to Singson’s claim of a failed ambush in October 2000, the police stopped the governor’s car for "running a red light" early in the morning on United Nations Avenue and San Marcelino street near the Western Police District headquarters.

"How could my driver have run through a red light when there were no more functioning traffic lights at that hour? That is why when I asked why we were stopped, the policemen who flagged us down did not know what to say. Natataranta sila," Singson said in a statement.

"Then I saw an unmarked red car filled with civilians with long firearms behind the police cars. This made me suspicious so I refused to get down from my vehicle. I said this earlier in my testimony leading to Estrada’s impeachment trial. It’s all in the record and they can neither impugn that testimony nor destroy my credibility," he said.

"Kung lumabas ako sa sasakyan ko nun, e di ginawa nila sa akin yung ginawa kay (Bubby) Dacer (Had I got down the vehicle then, they might have done to me what they did to Dacer)," Singson added, referring to the case of the publicist who was kidnapped in broad daylight in Metro Manila and whose body and that of his driver were found days later in Cavite.

"The defense also claims that I caught the attention of the policemen because of my vehicle’s blinker. But why should I be using a blinker at that hour when there was practically no traffic?" he said.

Singson said the defense witness was not among the policemen who stopped his vehicle.

"Wala naman siya dun. E di puro hearsay ang sinabi niya (He was not there, so what he said was pure hearsay)," he said.

Quian merely quoted "personal accounts" of the policemen who stopped Singson, according to newspaper and radio-TV reports.

Singson said he had nothing against the policemen who flagged down his vehicle. "They were merely used by their superiors," he said.

"I hope the defense stops misleading the public and delaying the resolution of the case. It’s time to resolve it one way or the other so the country can move on," he said.