Chavit Singson, 13 others face plunder raps
Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson — File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson faces a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly approving the purchase of a property in Narvacan town that was overpriced by P100 million in 2019 when Singson was its mayor.
The Warriors Ti Narvacan, Inc. (The Warriors of Narvacan Inc.) — an organization advocating good governance and public accountability — on Monday lodged the complaint against Singson and 13 others, including a mayor, a former vice mayor, and former councilors of Narvacan.
Singson, who served as Narvacan mayor from 2019 to 2022 and who has become more vocal in his criticism of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, called it “a desperate diversionary tactic and a renewed smear campaign orchestrated by political detractors.”
Overpriced
The Warriors alleged that Singson and the others conspired to defraud the local government of Narvacan by approving the purchase of a 99,974-square-meter property from Western Textile Mills Inc. at P149.96 million.
The group, represented by lawyer Estelita Cordero, claimed that the property’s actual value was only around P49.98 million based on zonal valuation, making the nearly P100-million difference a violation of Republic Act No. 7080, or the Anti-Plunder Act.
Also named as respondents were former Narvacan Vice Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr., former Councilors Edna Sanidad, Joseph Tejada, Jovenniano Ampo Jr., Charito Viloria, Bernadette Lim, Loreto Caballes, Emiliano Clarin, Reina Alexa Antolin, Romulo Rea, Joemar Grey Cabico, former municipal assessor Arlene Debina, and Raymond Ang of Western Textile Mills Inc.
Edna Sanidad is Narvacan’s incumbent mayor.
‘Personal loss’
Singson claimed that the 100,000 sq-m property was valued at P800 million, or P8,000 per sq m, during the transaction, but he arranged its sale to the local government for P120 million.
“This transaction resulted in a personal loss of approximately P680 million on my part, demonstrating a substantial act of assistance, not an attempt to profit or plunder,” he said. It is now currently valued at P2 billion.
READ: Chavit Singson slams plunder raps as ‘malicious, politically motivated’
