Palace clueless over Singson 'appointment'

MANILA, Philippines — A Malacañang official voiced surprise Saturday over the reported appointment of former Ilocos Sur governor and defeated senatorial bet Luis “Chavit" Singson as deputy national security adviser. Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said he has not seen the appointment papers of Singson, one of the administration senatorial bets who was defeated in last year's election. "Binabasa ko ‘yan kaninang umaga, kino-confirm ko pa ‘yan. As soon as makita ko ang papers ni Mr. Singson sasabihin ko sa inyo (I read the newspaper reports about it. I'm still trying to confirm it. As soon as I see the papers for his appointment I will let you know)," Golez said on government-run dzRB radio. If appointed to the National Security Council, Singson would be the latest defeated administration senatorial bet to get a post in the executive department. Among the defeated bets appointed to posts in the executive department were Vicente Sotto III (Dangerous Drugs Board), Prospero Pichay Jr. (Local Water Utilities Administration), Michael Defensor (task force on NAIA-3), and Ralph Recto (National Economic and Development Authority). - GMANews.TV