Too bad for Cong Singson

By Vic G. del Pilar

It's too bad for Congressman Ronald Singson.

Ronald, a musician and son of Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson who ran for a congressional seat in Ilocos and won his  first term during the recent May 10, 2010 elections.

 He was arrested in Hongkong  just as the botched hostage taking  happened in Manila in about the same months of last year.   Speculations are high that the Chinese government might take the chances against Cong. Singson,  who is now detained in that once old British city. The Ilocos Congressman was arrested in Hongkong on charges of importing illegal drugs through his hand luggage.

Philippine legislators, particularly the House of Representatives in Manila  are apprehensive that the Chinese courts might make Singson a bargain, in exchange of the eight {8) Chinese nationals who died during a failed hostage taking sometime in August, last year inside the tourist bus commandeered by a run away police officer.  That botched rescue sparked outraged between Hongkong and Chinese governments. If the Chinese courts would take it against their suspects as speculated. It would be unfair on the part of the Singsons. Sana huwag naman!    That would  be too much for a neophyte legislator.

We could only pray that the Hongkong court could be as practical as expected and in the process could spare Cong Singson from its harsh penalties.  Cong. Singson, who is  now under bail in the Chinese territory is waiting for his final verdict on his charges,  come January 26, this year.

On the other side of the story, the Singson experience is an eye opener for other legislators who just like Singson is also using illegal drugs, if any. We do not want to accuse anyone. But if Singson, as admitted is using illegal drugs, others may have done it or perhaps there are other legislators still doing the same, even at this writing. It only happens that only Congressman Singson was  caught en flagrante and arrested at the moment,  and no less in another country.  Yung iba ay hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nahuhuli.

But early on, his father Chavit have expressed his worries over the situation of his son.  In a PDI news, Chavit was quoted as saying, "I'm afraid that my son's case would be used as an example by the Chinese authorities who are still fuming over the hostage incident."  The incident that killed seven (7) Chinese nationals, all tourists during a failed rescue hostage taking involving a police officer, who in the process also died. However, Chavit  have high hopes that his son could get an acquittal on grounds that, as he said his son's situation was a case of frame up.

Here at home,  Chavit, the father,  has appealed to his son's co lawmakers in congress to go slow on passing a judgment against his son, saying they  {Philippine legislators) should wait for the Hongkong judgment of his son. What if, the court would find his son no guilty of the charge? Can he get back into his position if sooner they terminate him?