Chavit laughs off gambling charges vs him and Pacquiao

By Mar T. Supnad

VIGAN CITY -- Former Deputy national security adviser and now Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit"Singson laughed off reports that he and Rep. Manny Paquaio were behind the operation of illegal gambling in the South even has he threatened to file libel case against the writer and those who were behind the smear campaign against him and boxing hero Pacquaio.

Irked by reports printed on a local tabloid newspaper that he and Pacquaio are behind the illegal gambling operation in Region 12, Singson said he wanted to unmask who was behind the smear campaign against him and the pound-for- pound boxer.

“They should identify their sources who are accusing us of operating illegal gambling and not resorting to just quoting unknown sources which is libelous, thus placing us to public ridicule and embarrassment,”said Singson.

The report insinuated Singson and Pacquaio who are close friends, might be behind the proliferation of illegal gambling called “Last 2, last 3, and ;last 4,” digits in Region 12 particularly General Santos City.

“Di natin papatulan tong mga sugal na ito, kaya hinihiling ko na imbestigahan kung sino ang nasa likod nitong paninira na ito sa amin ni Cong. Manny Pacquaio; libelous tong ginawa nila na ito,”said Singson.

He said they are contemplating to file libel case against the writer and his editor.

Last July 6, the People’s Journal put in his headline the news report written by Jerry Adlaw, insinuating that Singson and Pacquaio were behind the proliferation of illegal gambling in Region 12 which was dubbed by Singson as pure imagination but libelous news articles.

A successful businessmen who runs a number of firms, including a bus company in the country, Singson said that authors and editors of such defamatory stories should be prudent in publishing it unless, he said, they have a credible and identified sources of their news and not just rely on unknown sources.

Since the start, the Ilocos Sur governor said he was against all forms of illegal gambling and illegal activities in the country.