Chavit confident Sandigan to dismiss graft case

VIGAN CITY , Philippines – Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson yesterday said he was confident that the graft case filed against him and Vice Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano by the Office of the Ombudsman would be dismissed by the Sandiganbayan.

He expressed surprise at the re-emergence of the case, saying it was one of several charges dumped against him several years ago when he parted ways with former President Joseph Estrada. 

Singson, who turned over the provincial leadership to his son Ryan Luis last Sunday, said he thought the case had been dismissed like the others filed against him before the start of Estrada’s impeachment trial where he was the principal witness.

“This case was filed a long time ago. It is now resurrected, for whatever reason I don’t know,” he told The STAR. “It will be dismissed because we have strong evidence showing that the funds were properly utilized by the Multiline food processing plant,” he said.

Multiline, a cooperative undertaking of the province’s tobacco farmers’ federation, requested for financial assistance from the provincial government for its food processing operations.

Singson was charged for extending fund assistance totaling P24 million to Multiline.

Savellano, on the other hand, said the complainants led by Tillie Cordero had executed affidavits of desistance and that he similarly was surprised to learn that the case is still under litigation.

He was charged for the P1.8 million he released as financial assistance to Multiline during his term as governor in 2001-2004. 

Savellano said all fund assistance to Multiline benefited Ilocos Sur farmers as the plant purchased raw materials from them for its food processing operations.