Congressman Ronald V. Singson plead guilty on 31 January 2011, admitting before the District Court in Wan Chai to the drug trafficking case filed against him at the Tsuen Wan Magistracy Courts after his arrest on 11 July 2010. Hong Kong police nabbed him at the Hong Kong Kok International Airport for carrying 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of diazepam (Valium) on a flight from Manila. In Hong Kong, trafficking a dangerous drug carries a maximum penalt of life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million ($644,000).
Singson, son of Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, admitted he started using cocaine in 2004, and since 2010, he has been smoking up to four to five grams of cocaine daily. The cocaine recovered from him was supposedly for personal use and not for selling.
THE SENTENCE
Wang Chai (Hong Kong) District Court Judge Joseph Yau sentenced Singson to one year and six months in prison for illegal drug possession. Yau took into account Singson's guilty plea, previous good character, clear criminal record, and his lack of plan to re-sell the drugs.
The Singson family decided not to appeal the case to a higher court out of prudence. A loss in a higher court might result to a longer sentence.
RESIGNATION
In a one-page resignation letter, dated 28 February, Singson let go of his post as representative of Ilocos Sur. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. received the letter from the elder Singson, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson on 1 March 2011.
In keeping with the time-honored tradition of this August COngress to be ever vigilant that all who work in its corridors or sit in its various sessions must come with clean hands, clean minds, and clean hearts, I have come to the painful decision to tender my resignation as a member of the 15th Congress, went a part of his letter.
THE SENTENCE
Wang Chai (Hong Kong) District Court Judge Joseph Yau sentenced Singson to one year and six months in prison for illegal drug possession. Yau took into account Singson's guilty plea, previous good character, clear criminal record, and his lack of plan to re-sell the drugs.
The Singson family decided not to appeal the case to a higher court out of prudence. A loss in a higher court might result to a longer sentence.
RESIGNATION
In a one-page resignation letter, dated 28 February, Singson let go of his post as representative of Ilocos Sur. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. received the letter from the elder Singson, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson on 1 March 2011.
In keeping with the time-honored tradition of this August COngress to be ever vigilant that all who work in its corridors or sit in its various sessions must come with clean hands, clean minds, and clean hearts, I have come to the painful decision to tender my resignation as a member of the 15th Congress, went a part of his letter.
Sources
Ben Rosario: "Singson resigns," Manila Bulletin 1 March 2011
Henry Omaga Diaz: "Singson sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison," ABS-CBN News 24 February 2011
Sunstar News Exchange: "Lawmaker pleads guilty to drug raps," Sunnex 31 January 2011
Henry Omaga Diaz: "Singson sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison," ABS-CBN News 24 February 2011
Sunstar News Exchange: "Lawmaker pleads guilty to drug raps," Sunnex 31 January 2011
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