House will not send observer to Singson's arraignment in HK

The House of Representatives will not send an observer to the arraignment of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, who is facing drug-related charges in Hong Kong, scheduled on Tuesday. Marikina Rep. Federico Romero Quimbo said they will be monitoring the developments on the case through Consul General Claro Cristobal, head of the RP Consulate in Hong Kong. He did not say the reason for not sending a representative to the proceedings. “We will just monitor here through our Philippine Consul there. Congressman Singson may plead guilty or not guilty," Quimbo said Monday. He said if Singson pleads not guilty, the trial will proceed. A decision, however, will be immediately issued should the embattled lawmaker pleads guilty. Even if a full-blown trial pushes through, Quimbo said they are still unlikely to send an observer to Hong Kong but instead will just “closely" monitor the proceedings. Singson, son of Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, was charged for allegedly carrying 6.7 grams of cocaine along with two tablets of diazepam, more commonly known under the brand name Valium. He was arrested at the Customs Arrival Hall of Chek Lap Kok International Airport last July 11. Singson is out on bail but cannot leave Hong Kong throughout the course of the trial. Last August 19, Quimbo and lawyer Leonardo Palicte III of the House legal department flew to Hong Kong to monitor the bail hearing of Singson. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte earlier said the chamber would continue sending representatives to the proceedings as he expressed hope that Singson’s case would not be affected by the August 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila that resulted in the deaths of eight tourists from Hong Kong. - Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV