Lawyer seeks Singson’s expulsion from Congress

A lawyer has formally asked the House of Representative to expel Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson from his post, days after the congressman pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in Hong Kong last Monday. Lawyer Fernando Perito filed his complaint against Singson before the House ethics committee on Wednesday. Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, chairperson of the House committee on ethics and privileges, said they may have to invite Perito in their hearings on the Singson ethics case "to determine if his complaint is sufficient in form and substance." "This [ethics complaint] will still be considered by the committee, despite the fact that we have already decided to take jurisdiction of Rep. Singson’s case,"Aumentado told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. Aumentado was referring to the House panel on ethics’ decision to start proceedings to determine possible sanctions against Singson, after the lawmaker pleaded guilty to his drug case in Hong Kong. The preliminary investigation on the ethics case is scheduled on February 15, according to Aumentado. Guilty plea Ronald, the son of Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson admitted before the Hong Kong court that he went on a cocaine-and-gambling binge after attending an Usher concert in Manila he helped stage on July 9, frustrated by an argument with his girlfriend. He likewise said that he decided to join a friend attending a poker tournament in Macau while carrying the illegal drugs, causing him to be arrested while transiting through Hong Kong. It was earlier reported that Singson was not immediately sentenced in Hong Kong's District Court pending testimony on whether he planned on consuming the cocaine or sharing it with others — a factor that could influence the length of his sentence. Singson was caught carrying 0.24 ounces (6.67 grams) of cocaine at the southern Chinese city's international airport in July. Drug trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million ($640,000). — RSJ, GMANews.TV