Singson posts HK$1-M bail on drug raps

Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson was temporarily released from jail Thursday by a Hongkong judge after posting a HK$1-million (P5.8 million) bail pending his trial on drug charges in the Chinese special territory, government officials and media reports said.

Singson, son of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, was jailed since July 11 after he was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport for carrying 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium, a powerful sedative banned in the territory.

Judge Ernest Michael Lin of the Tsuen Wan Magistrate Court No. 1 granted Singson’s bail petition after local authorities found out the cocaine was not pure and its actual weight was only 6.67 grams.

Singson however was not allowed to leave Hong Kong until the court hands downs its final verdict on his case.

Lin also directed Singson to submit all his travel papers to Hong Kong authorities to ensure that he does not jump bail and leave Hong Kong.

Singson appeared before the magistrate at around 11 a.m. wearing a black coat and white polo with no tie.

Marikina City Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo told the media he attended the proceedings as an observer from the House of Representatives.

Singson was not in handcuffs but was escorted by a guard at the hearing.

Leonardo Palicte III, head of the House legal department accompanied Quimbo to Hong Kong.

Quimbo said also present at the hearing were his father, his rumored girlfriend Lovie Poe, and his lawyer, John Reading.

He said Lin asked Singson some questions regarding the case, mostly standard queries on whether he was aware of the details of the charges, to which the lawmaker answered in the affirmative.

Reading did most of the pleading before Lin and spoke about the plight of the workers of Singson, who has not been able to attend to his many businesses, Quimbo said.

He said the judge glared at one of the governor’s female companions after she heaved a loud sigh of relief when he said he was inclined to grant Singson’s petition for bail, a witness to the proceedings said.

“I would like to sternly remind you of the proper conduct while in the court,” Quimbo quoted Lin as telling the woman.

Quimbo said the entire proceedings took only about 20 minutes. He said Singson looked calm throughout the hearing and at one point nodded at his father.

He said Singson would be under the custody of two Hong Kong businessmen-friends of his father and would be required to report to certain police stations every day for at least two hours.

An ABS-CBN report identified the two Hong Kong businessmen as Annie Shie and Derrick Wong. Shie was present during the bail hearing, the news report said.

Singson’s arraignment was set on Sept. 7, the report said.

There were reports the court also asked the lawmaker to post a HK$500,000 surety bond but this could not be verified as of press time.

Quimbo and Palicte arrived in Manila Thursday to finalize their formal report to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, who dispatched them to Hong Kong.

He said he briefed the Speaker over the phone but would submit a written report after collecting all the pertinent documents, including the police blotter and court records.

“We’re just observers. The purpose is to help the Speaker make a decision on calls to file an ethics case (against Singson in the chamber),” Quimbo said, adding Belmonte was concerned over the possible impact of the case on the image of the House.

When sought for comment on the latest developments, Belmonte said: “The case is still pending. We will continue to monitor and await developments.”

Interviewed over ANC, Gov. Singson said he was gratified his son was allowed to post bail as he expressed suspicions he could have been framed.

He said Hong Kong anti-narcotics authorities weighed the actual amount of the cocaine after removing it from the bottle it was in.

“This is the good development in the case. The gravity of the charge was lessened because the bottle was removed,” the governor told the network in Filipino.

Singson said the judge did not allow him to pay for the bail but the two custodians of his son were the ones who put up the money.

He claimed that political or business rivals of his son might have framed up the congressman since his two other companions to Hong Kong who were also carrying cocaine were released.

Meanwhile, relatives and supporters of Rep. Singson were glad over the decision of the Hong Kong court to grant temporarily liberty to the congressman.

Mayor Germy Singson-Goulart of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, welcomed the release of Singson and said she is glad that God answered their prayers.

Goulart said they would continue the mercy-prayers, including “pleas to God that the charges be downgraded.”