Ronald Singson
Encyclopedia
Ronald Versoza Singson is a Filipino politician, businessman and concert producer. A son of the patriarch of the Singson political clan Chavit Singson
, he served as representative of Ilocos Sur
's first district from 2007 to 2010, when he resigned after being convicted for 18 months for drug possession by the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong.
. While in Congress, he co-authored a bill giving more benefits to people involved in the judicial branch of the government.
Singson relaunched music channel Channel V Philippines
on December 2009. Early in 2010, Singson later was linked to actress Lovi Poe
, daughter of presidential candidate
Fernando Poe, Jr.
, a relationship downplayed by Poe when she is being interviewed by the media. Singson also became a partner of Jomari Yllana
in Fearless Production, a production outfit that produces live concerts.
Singson sought to defend his seat in the 2010 House of Representatives election against Beltran Baterina, winning in May 2010.
On July 9, 2010, Singson's production outfit co-produced Usher's concert at the SM Mall of Asia
Concert Grounds, and was considering to bring Justin Bieber
to the Philippines.
for allegedly possessing 26.1 grams of cocaine
and 2 tablets of Valium on July 11, 2010. He refused to be helped by the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong, and on July 22, a judge denied him of bail on his arraignment. On August, the judge granted him bail worth HK$
2 million (PHP
12 million) after it was determined that the weight of the drugs seized on Singson was only 6.7 grams. Representative Miro Quimbo observed the proceedings to compile a report to Congress.
On September, the court extended his bail due to him undergoing medical treatment; it also delayed Singson's plea bargaining on October. The judge then rescheduled the next hearings to November when the judge ordered Singson's lawyer to explain why a medical report would be necessary. After Singson admitted that the drugs seized were for his own personal use, his lawyers arranged him to plead guilty for drug possession; this was opposed by the prosecution that insisted that Singson was importing the drugs to Hong Kong.
After pleading guilty, Akbayan representative Walden Bello
urged Speaker of the House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
to initiate expulsion proceedings against Singson. Majority floor leader Neptali Gonzales II maintained the House of Representatives' stand was to let the trial finish. On January 2011, Stanley Chan, the judge presiding Singson's trial stood down after receiving a letter with "prejudicial allegations" against Singson. His father Chavit remarked after the hearing that his son was "set up." Chavit later said that his son may be used as an example by the Chinese who are still angry on the Manila hostage crisis
that led to the deaths of several Hong Kong residents in a bloody rescue attempt by the Manila Police District
. Singson considered resigning from his House seat but urged other representatives to let the trial finish before judging him.
On February 23, 2011, judge Joseph Yau agreed with Singson that the drugs were for his own personal use, since that he did not need to traffic drugs to maintain a living considering he is a member of a wealthy family, although he contended that Singson overstated his level of drug use. Singson's lawyer proposed a sentence of less than two years.
Yau ruled that Singson was guilty of drug possession, sentencing him to two and a half years in prison, but reducing it by a year due to Singson pleading guilty, and his good personal background. Singson's family and Lovi Poe attending the sentencing; Chavit later said that they would not appeal the decision. On March 1, Singson resigned from the House of Representatives, with the lower house accepting his resignation and declaring a vacancy to his seat a week later.
With the vacancy, the House of Representatives ordered the Commission on Elections
to call a special election
to fill Singson's seat. The commission subsequently scheduled the special election on May 28, where he was succeeded by his brother, Vigan Vice Mayor Ryan Singson.
Chavit Singson
Luis Crisologo Singson , better known as Chavit Singson, is a Filipino politician. He was a former Governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines since 1998. He ran for the Senate in the 2007 Elections in the Philippines but he lost greatly...
, he served as representative of Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
's first district from 2007 to 2010, when he resigned after being convicted for 18 months for drug possession by the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong.
Career
Singson was elected as representative of Ilocos Sur's first district on the 2007 election, succeeding Salacnib Baterina who was term-limited, serving in the 14th Congress14th Congress of the Philippines
The Fourteenth Congress of the Philippines was the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
. While in Congress, he co-authored a bill giving more benefits to people involved in the judicial branch of the government.
Singson relaunched music channel Channel V Philippines
Channel V Philippines
Channel [V] Philippines is a 24-hour music-entertainment television network owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, a partnership with TV Xtreme Broadcasting Company as a new network provider starting on March 1, 2009....
on December 2009. Early in 2010, Singson later was linked to actress Lovi Poe
Lovi Poe
Lourdes Virginia Moran Poe, better known by her screen name Lovi Poe , is an award-winning Filipina actress and singer who is currently a contract star of GMA Network. She is the daughter of the legendary actor Fernando Poe, Jr...
, daughter of presidential candidate
Philippine presidential election, 2004
The Philippine presidential and vice presidential elections of 2004 was held on Monday, May 10, 2004. In the presidential election, incumbent president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo successfully won a full six-year term as President, with a margin of just over one million votes over her leading opponent,...
Fernando Poe, Jr.
Fernando Poe, Jr.
Ronald Allan Poe y Kelley , better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration...
, a relationship downplayed by Poe when she is being interviewed by the media. Singson also became a partner of Jomari Yllana
Jomari Yllana
Jomari Yllana is a Filipino actor, model, concert producer and promoter....
in Fearless Production, a production outfit that produces live concerts.
Singson sought to defend his seat in the 2010 House of Representatives election against Beltran Baterina, winning in May 2010.
On July 9, 2010, Singson's production outfit co-produced Usher's concert at the SM Mall of Asia
SM Mall of Asia
SM Mall of Asia is a shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall developer and owner in the Philippines. SM Mall of Asia is the 2nd largest mall in the Philippines after SM City North EDSA, 3rd largest shopping mall in Asia and the 4th largest shopping mall in the world...
Concert Grounds, and was considering to bring Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
to the Philippines.
Arrest in Hong Kong
On late July, it was reported that Singson was arrested at the Hong Kong International AirportHong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
for allegedly possessing 26.1 grams of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and 2 tablets of Valium on July 11, 2010. He refused to be helped by the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong, and on July 22, a judge denied him of bail on his arraignment. On August, the judge granted him bail worth HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
2 million (PHP
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
12 million) after it was determined that the weight of the drugs seized on Singson was only 6.7 grams. Representative Miro Quimbo observed the proceedings to compile a report to Congress.
On September, the court extended his bail due to him undergoing medical treatment; it also delayed Singson's plea bargaining on October. The judge then rescheduled the next hearings to November when the judge ordered Singson's lawyer to explain why a medical report would be necessary. After Singson admitted that the drugs seized were for his own personal use, his lawyers arranged him to plead guilty for drug possession; this was opposed by the prosecution that insisted that Singson was importing the drugs to Hong Kong.
After pleading guilty, Akbayan representative Walden Bello
Walden Bello
Walden Bello is a Filipino author, academic, and political analyst. He is a professor of sociology and public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman, as well as executive director of Focus on the Global South...
urged Speaker of the House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
Feliciano "Sonny" Racimo Belmonte, Jr. is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the Fourth District of Quezon City. He is also the house speaker of the Congress from 2010 to present. He was the mayor of Quezon City from 2001-2010.-Early Life and Career:Belmonte was born...
to initiate expulsion proceedings against Singson. Majority floor leader Neptali Gonzales II maintained the House of Representatives' stand was to let the trial finish. On January 2011, Stanley Chan, the judge presiding Singson's trial stood down after receiving a letter with "prejudicial allegations" against Singson. His father Chavit remarked after the hearing that his son was "set up." Chavit later said that his son may be used as an example by the Chinese who are still angry on the Manila hostage crisis
Manila hostage crisis
As the Hong Thai Travel Services tour bus was taking on the 25 Hong Kong tourists in front of Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Rolando Mendoza attempted to follow the tourists onto the tour bus, requesting a free ride. When his request was declined by the driver, Mendoza brandished a weapon,...
that led to the deaths of several Hong Kong residents in a bloody rescue attempt by the Manila Police District
Manila Police District
The Manila Police District is the agency of the Philippine National Police responsible for law enforcement in the City of Manila. Formerly known as the Western Police District , the MPD is under the National Capital Region Police Office , which also handles the Quezon City, Eastern, Northern and...
. Singson considered resigning from his House seat but urged other representatives to let the trial finish before judging him.
On February 23, 2011, judge Joseph Yau agreed with Singson that the drugs were for his own personal use, since that he did not need to traffic drugs to maintain a living considering he is a member of a wealthy family, although he contended that Singson overstated his level of drug use. Singson's lawyer proposed a sentence of less than two years.
Yau ruled that Singson was guilty of drug possession, sentencing him to two and a half years in prison, but reducing it by a year due to Singson pleading guilty, and his good personal background. Singson's family and Lovi Poe attending the sentencing; Chavit later said that they would not appeal the decision. On March 1, Singson resigned from the House of Representatives, with the lower house accepting his resignation and declaring a vacancy to his seat a week later.
With the vacancy, the House of Representatives ordered the Commission on Elections
Commission on Elections (Philippines)
The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
to call a special election
Ilocos Sur's 1st legislative district special election, 2011
A special election for Ilocos Sur's 1st district seat in the House of Representatives of the Philippines was held on May 28, 2011. The special election was called after incumbent representative Ronald Singson resigned on March 7, 2011 after being convicted of drug possession by the Wan Chai...
to fill Singson's seat. The commission subsequently scheduled the special election on May 28, where he was succeeded by his brother, Vigan Vice Mayor Ryan Singson.