Speaker: House has yet to receive official word on Rep. Singson's case

The House of Representatives leadership has not received word from the family of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who is detained in HongKong over drug charges. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said all the information he has so far came from the media, and that no member of the Singson family has approached the chamber's leadership. "We are getting our information on Cong. Singson from the media. We are ready to talk to any member of his family but nobody [has come forward yet]," he told reporters Wednesday. He said it is better not to judge Singson at this time. "Under our laws, he is innocent until proven guilty. Among us in Congress, we await official word," Belmonte said. Asked about who will take charge of Singson's district in the meantime, Belmonte said there is no need to assign anybody because the lawmaker's staff is doing the job. Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III earlier said Singson will remain a lawmaker and not be stricken automatically of the rolls of the House despite his drug case in Hong Kong. [See: Detained Singson still a House member] He said a complaint should first be filed before the House ethics committee can take action against an erring member. However, the House is yet to name the chairman of the committee. "The House itself is in the stage of organizing itself. We have not actually named members of the various committees including the committee on ethics which would have jurisdiction over any complaints, if any, which may be lodged against any member," Belmonte said. Singson was arrested at the Customs Arrival Hall of Chek Lap Kok International Airport on July 11, where he yielded 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of diazepam, commonly known as the brand-name Valium. [See: Chavit admits lawmaker-son is in HK jail on drug raps] — LBG, GMANews.TV