‘Pot-smoking’ Brits, Aussie arrested by Chavit seek bail

SINGSON. Photo by RICHARD A. REYES

Four foreigners recently arrested by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson in Quezon City have asked the court to allow them to post bail while the drug charges against them are undergoing preliminary investigation.

The foreign nationals were caught allegedly smoking marijuana while they were guests at Singson’s house Sunday.

Police said Singson—a political kingpin who came to prominence in the last decade as the “juetengate” whistle-blower who caused the downfall of then President Joseph Estrada—carried out a citizen’s arrest.

British citizens James Gates, Jack McLeod, Ross Barnaby McLeod and Australian Arthur Murray Nash filed their motion to post bail through lawyer Elizabeth Macaibay on Thursday.

Executive Judge Fernando Sagun of Quezon City Regional Trial Court directed Assistant City Prosecutor Irene Resurreccion to submit her comment on the foreigners’ motion.

Gates and the others were turned over to the police by Singson, who claimed that he caught them smoking marijuana inside his house in Corinthian Gardens subdivision.

The Quezon City Police District charged the foreigners with possession and use of illegal drugs and paraphernalia, all bailable offenses.

Quoting Singson, a report at the QCPD’s Eastwood station said the governor arrived at his house and chanced upon the foreigners smoking around 5 a.m. The governor did not say why the foreigners were in his house and who exactly in his family was hosting them.

Suspicious of the smell, Singson seized the cigarette sticks from the guests, which later tested positive for containing marijuana. The foreigners refused to undergo a drug test following their arrest, the police said. Julie M. Aurelio