Singson pleads not guilty to graft charges

MANILA, Philippines - Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson yesterday pleaded not guilty to graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

He appeared before the anti-graft court’s Third Division to undergo conditional arraignment for purposes of travel abroad.

Singson is asking the Sandiganbayan for a travel clearance for a business trip to Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia next week.

His arraignment was conditional since he still has a pending motion to quash which ultimately seeks the dismissal of the charges filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Singson was indicted for allegedly causing undue injury to the government in relation to a complaint filed by Estelita Cordero, chairperson of the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance Foundation.

The group accused Singson of being involved in the alleged unlawful release of a total of P26,060,500 in financial assistance to the Multi-Line Food Processing International Inc. during his term.

Last week, the Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order barring Singson from leaving the country without its prior permission.