Take action vs Chavit, women lawmakers urge Palace

Women lawmakers urged Malacaňang Friday to take action against deputy national security adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson, who has admitted beating up his former live-in partner Rachel Tiongson after allegedly catching her with another man. Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros said Singson should be slapped with preventive suspension, adding that the incident was "a classic case of violence against women." "He's not only a government official, deputy national security adviser siya," Hontiveros told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. She said Malacañang should also extend its support to the victim. Gabriela Women's Party-list Rep. Liza Maza said Palace officials should carefully discuss if they are going to penalize Singson for his actions. "It's not a private matter. Under the law, it's a crime," Maza said in a phone interview, adding that Singson should be held criminally liable. "We expect from our public officials high moral standards especially in relation to adhering to laws," Maza added. Tiongson, through a lawyer, asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday to issue a temporary protection order to prevent Singson from going near her within a distance of one kilometer. Behave But a Palace official, however, could only "advise" Singson to "behave" and passed on the responsibility to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales to discipline his subordinate. "We advise him to behave accordingly as an upright citizen and submit himself to due process of law," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in answer to a query by reporters. Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself has not talked about the issue so far, but assured that the Palace will be awaiting developments as Tiongson has already filed a complaint in court. Remonde also refused to comment on Singson's performance of his official duties, saying it was best to ask Gonzales. Gonzales could not be reached by phone as of posting time.

In previous interviews with various media outfits, Singson said he does not regret beating up Tiongson and her alleged paramour. "Di ako nagsisisi sa ginawa ko. Nagsisinungaling sila pareho (It’s okay with me. I do not regret what I did because they were both lying to me)." Singson said the two should even be thankful that he spared their lives despite what they did. "Swerte sila at nakakapag-isip pa ako. Kung nasaktan man sila, nararapat lamang dahil nanloloko sila (They were lucky that at that time, I could still think straight. If ever they got hurt, they deserve it because they were cheating)," he said. "Mabait tayo, di ko sila pinatay. Huling-huli ko nga (It’s good I'm not ruthless. I didn’t kill them even though I caught them in the act)," he added. Not the first time He also said it was not the first time he caught his former live-in partner, with whom he has five children, cheating on him. Singson also earlier told reporters that his former partner filed the case against him to extract more money from him. "I have all the evidence and I am the victim here," he said. Singson is reputed to be one of the country’s most powerful politicians. His testimony against former President Joseph Estrada’s supposed illegal gambling activities led to his former friend’s downfall and subsequent conviction in a plunder case filed by the Ombudsman. President Arroyo, however, granted Estrada full pardon soon after the Sandiganbayan sentenced him to imprisonment in late 2007. Singson ran but lost in the 2007 senatorial elections. President Arroyo appointed him as deputy national security adviser last year. - GMANews.TV