Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, 69, told 24 Oras in an interview about his son Ronald, House representative of the first district of Ilocos Sur, who was arrested on July 11 in Hong Kong for drug trafficking, "Nobody is above the law. He should be punished. He is being punished right now as he is in jail."
He told PEP.ph, "I hope na nagdusa na siya nang husto at hindi na mauulit ito... Nahiya kami sa pangyayari kaya humihingi uli ako ng paumanhin sa lahat, lalong-lalo na sa aming mga kababayan. I'm sure na pagdating ni Ronald dito, e, marami siyang ie-explain sa aming mga kababayan. [I hope he has suffered enough and that he would not repeat this act... We are embarrassed and we apologize especially to our fellowmen. I'm sure that Ronald will explain everything when he comes back.]"
Chavit told 24 Oras that Ronald could not leave Hong Kong because he allegedly admitted to the charges so that his companions may be allowed to leave. According to GMANews.tv, Ronald was caught with 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium at the Customs Arrival Hall of Chek Lap Kok International Airport. He is currently detained at the Lai Chi Kok Rehabilitation Center, a maximum-security prison in Kowloon, according to PEP.ph.
Chavit claims Ronald, 41, who has allegedly been having problems with rumored girlfriend Lovi Poe, 21, fell victim to drug pushers. "I am sad," he said. "I am all the more enraged with drug pushers. My son became a victim because of a misunderstanding with Lovi Poe."
Lovi, Best Actress in the 6th Cinemalaya Film Festival, had never confirmed her relationship with Ronald although they had been often seen together at events. Chavit told ABS-CBNNews.com that the rumored couple broke up on the night of Usher's concert in Manila on July 9. He added that Ronald went to Macau to see Usher perform.
Saying he himself has been vocal against the use of illegal drugs, Chavit told 24 Oras, "My son has not been a good example. I hope this serves as a lesson to everyone."
Chavit told PEP.ph, "I am ashamed to visit him because I am strict about the use of illegal drugs. I don't help anyone involved in drugs especially pushers, even victims... I haven't spoken to him." He will visit his son early next month, according to GMANews.tv.
Chavit denied that former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would visit Ronald when she flies to Hong Kong today, July 26, for her husband's check-up for his aortic aneurysm. He told PEP.ph, "Her scheduled visit to Hong Kong has no connection at all to Ronald. I did not contact anyone from the government. All of Ronalds' lawyers are from Hong Kong."
Asked what his initial reaction was when he found out about Ronald's arrest, he told PEP.ph, "I didn't know what to do so I laid low back then." Chavit had first denied knowledge of Ronald's arrest, according to GMANews.tv.
According to the PEP.ph report, Chavit said there is a big chance that Ronald could come back to the Philippines.
