Former Rep Singson claims innocence on drug charges

By Mar T. Supnad

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur- Freshly- arrived Saturday afternoon from Hong Kong after spending 18 months in jail, former Rep. Ronald Singson claimed innocence on illegal drug charges slapped against him but said he admitted the charges since the drugs were found inside his travelling bag when he arrived in Hong Kong airport.

A son of incumbent Gov. ChavitSingson, Ronald told his supporters and relatives in their jampacked Baluarte residence that he could do nothing when he was accosted except to accept it.

The former congressman blamed his foreigner friends who, he said, were the real owners of the drugs that they had inserted inside his bag when he went to Hong Kong last July, 2010.

Gov. Singson later asked authorities to hunt suspected drug lords who were behind the apprehension of his son.

In his remarks right after arriving here, Ronald said that he was not even a drug user as proven by the number of drug tests conducted on him in Hong Kong.

He said at first, the judge did not believe him that he was not using illegal drugs but when the results of the drug tests affirmed that he was negative, the judge believed.

He said he admitted guilt, despite his being innocenct, that the drugs were for his personal use “being a drug usher since I could do nothing anymore.”

This has prompted the Hong Kong court to sentence him to 18 months in jail.

Usually, a number of Pinoys caught with illegal drugs in other countries were sentenced for death.

From Hong Kong Airport, Ronald was fetched by his father on a private plane, then went directly to Laoag Airport where a number of media practitioners were waiting.

The Singsons had proceeded to their home in Baluarte in Vigan where they immediately held a mass.

“Siyempre masaya ang pamilya. Gusto sana namin private para sa pamilya pero marami ang nagmamahal. May thanksgiving din,”Ronald’s younger brother now Rep. Ryan Singson told newsmen.

Last May 28, 2011, the Commission on Elections held a special election for the post vacated by Ronald after he filed his resignation as member of the Lower House in Congress.

Ryan replaced him to represent the first district of Ilocos Sur after winning in a landslide victory.

But some of Ronald’s supporters said they were willing to elect the convicted congressman into office again if he decides to throw his hat again into the political arena.