Former Ilocos Sur Governors Luis “Chavit” Singson INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Saying that the three graft cases against him were filed with “capricious delay,” former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson has asked the Sandiganbayan to immediately dismiss the charges that had been “sleeping” for more than 10 years in the Office of the Ombudsman.
A motion to quash filed by Singson’s lawyer, Francisco Tolentino, in the antigraft court’s Fifth Division said that complainant Estelita Cordero had filed suit against Singson on Dec. 5, 2002, but it was only on Dec. 10, 2012, that the Ombudsman issued an order directing Singson and the other respondents to submit their counter-affidavits.
On July 3, 2013, the Ombudsman issued a resolution recommending the indictment of Singson and his successor, former Gov. Deogracias Savellano, after it denied their motions for reconsideration.
Last week, Singson posted bail totaling P90,000. His co-accused, Savellano, has yet to post a bond.
The court set Singson’s arraignment for Oct. 30 but his lawyers want the court to first resolve their pending motion claiming a “blatant violation of accused Singson’s constitutional right to a speedy disposition of his cases.”
The Ombudsman’s complaint said that Singson, who was governor of Ilocos Sur from 1998 to 2001, entered into four memorandums of agreement with Multi-Line Food Processing International Inc. (MFPII) on Feb. 5 (P9.18 million), Feb. 20 (P4 million), May 28 (P3 million) and in June (P8 million), all in 2001.
The releases amounting to P24.18 million were allegedly intended to bankroll the private company’s unspecified livelihood projects.
Savellano, Singson’s successor who served up to 2003, likewise forged a similar agreement with Multi-Line Food in December 2001, giving the company a grant of P1,880,500 in financial assistance.
The combined allocations totaling P26,060,500 were obtained from the province’s share of the tobacco excise tax earmarked under Republic Act No. 7171 (An Act to Promote the Development of the Farmers in the Virginia Tobacco Producing Provinces).
Cordero, chair of the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance (Sisa) Foundation, alerted the Ombudsman to what she considered an unlawful release of public funds to MFPII.
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