Chavit Singson

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Luis Crisologo Singson (born June 21, 1941), also known as "Chavit Singson", is a Filipino politician. He is the incumbent Governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

Contents 1 Background 1.1 Family History 1.2 Family feud 2 Biography and career 2.1 Early life 2.2 Career 3 Signification roles 3.1 Role in EDSA II 3.2 Role in the Hello Garci scandal 4 Trivia 5 References 6 Additional Reading 7 External link

[edit] Background

[edit] Family History

The Singsons started to put down roots in Vigan in the 17th century. Joaquin Ayco, a merchant from Oasay, China, married a Chinese mestiza, Rosa Songnio, a Vigan native. Singson's forefathers ruled Vigan as far back as the 1800s. The post of gobernadorcillo was held by Don Leon Singson in 1846, Don Estanislao Singson in 1852, Don Domingo Singson in 1854, Don Tomas Singson in 1858 and Don Jose Singson in 1877. By the 20th century, almost the whole Singson family was into politics.

The governor's father was mayor of Vigan from 1968 to 1971, a post his elder brother Evaristo, better known as "Titong," held from 1972 to 1986. Titong also became governor of Ilocos Sur, albeit only briefly. He took office on June 1, 1988, and died on Dec. 25 that same year. ^[1]

[edit] Family feud

In Ilocos the political conflict involves the warring clans of the Singsons and Crisologos, backed up by the dreaded saka-saka troops, composed of unemployed farmers, fishermen and mercenaries.

People probably know that the bitterest political enemies in Ilocos Sur are also relatives. Chavit's mother was the younger sister of Rep. Floro Crisologo. Crisologo was married to Carmeling, who became the first woman governor of the province. Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo, eldest son of Floro and Carmeling and Singson's first cousin, was, at one time, his worst enemy.

Singson went through many violent and near-death encounters between the cousins, including the sensational arson and carnage in Barangay Ora Centro in May 1970 that put Bingbong behind bars.

[edit] Biography and career

[edit] Early life

Governor Singson was born on June 21, 1941 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. He is the second among the seven children of Jose Singson and Caridad Crisologo. His other siblings, aside from Titong, are Bernardo (deceased), Fernando (Dodoy), Maria Livia (Honeygirl), Jerry, Germelina (Germy) and Bonito.

Singson's growing-up years were spent in Vigan, where he led a normal childhood "with a very liberal upbringing and a lot of opportunity to play and make friends." He apparently got his own fondness for mahjong from his mother who loved the game. Despite their prominence in the province, it was not always a life of wealth for the Singsons. At one point, the family had to sell their appliances. Singson learned how difficult life was without money. That taught him to be street-smart. Singson's character was strengthened especially with the seemingly unending family squabbles and political dynasties of his youth, the tobacco industry in Ilocos and how the Singsons got into tobacco growing and trading. The family brought the first redrying plant to Ilocos in the '60s.

[edit] Career

Gov. Singson started out as a businessman. He then entered politics, becoming a political kingpin in his province for 28 years, and later playing a significant role in Philippine politics and democracy. He is currently the Governor of Ilocos Sur ^[2] a position he has held for 22 years.

Singson currently lives in his home, called Baluarte, in Vigan City. He is a former close friend and gambling and drinking buddy of President Estrada. Singson was married to Evelyn Crisologo on May 3, 1962. Now separated, the couple had seven children.

[edit] Signification roles

[edit] Role in EDSA II

Singson is known to have started EDSA II, when in October 2000 he alleged he gave President Joseph Estrada Php 400 million as payoff from illegal gambling profits. On October 16, 2000, he accused the Estrada, as the "lord of all jueteng lords" for receiving 5 million pesos protection money from jueteng every month during his term of presidency. He also accused the president of receiving kickbacks from 170 million pesos excise tobacco tax. ^[3] This is equivalent to taking more than US $7.7 million in bribes from illegal gambling lords as well as another US$2.5 million in tobacco tax kickbacks. ^[4]

His exposé ultimately led to the impeachment trial after he accused the President of receiving over P400 million in bribes from jueteng operators. First called to the witness stand by the prosecution on Dec. 13 and continued his testimony on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15. Testified that Mr. Estrada, codenamed A.S. or Asyong Salonga in the jueteng ledger, regularly received a cut from jueteng collections. Claimed that Mr. Estrada would receive a bigger percentage from Bingo 2-Ball, a legal, modified version of jueteng that was the brainchild of the President's friend and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. consultant Charlie "Atong" Ang. Testified that Ang, presidential adviser for Bicol affairs Anton Prieto and former Estrada political adviser Jaime Policarpio regularly received jueteng collections, and that Senators John Osmeña and Teresa Aquino-Oreta received P1 million each as balato from mahjong. Also claimed that he issued a check to beauty queen Joelle Pelaez for and on behalf of Mr. Estrada. Called back to the stand on Dec. 19 as a witness for Article 2 or the impeachment charge of graft and corruption.

After more than 30 years of friendship, Gov. Luis Singson leveled the graft-related accusations that led to the impeachment charges that have been filed against Philippine President Joseph Estrada. He charged that President Joseph Estrada, several members of his family, and his friends were benefiting from jueteng.

Singson said that he had delivered more than 400 million pesos ($8.6 million) in gambling payoffs from jueteng to Estrada. The governor said he began collecting and delivering the money in 1998, a few months after Estrada was elected president. He added that he participated in the payoffs until August 2000, and that the money drops were made in Estrada's office. He also said Estrada had received 130 million pesos ($2.8 million) from provincial tax revenues.

Estrada was put under investigation, but on 16 January 2001, a key piece of evidence was blocked in court, leading to protests in Manila and other major cities backing to vice president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Estrada's government quickly fell.

[edit] Role in the Hello Garci scandal

In 2005, during the nation's Presidential Hello Garci scandal, Singson claimed he had a tape of a conversation where the jailed president Joseph Estrada stated he was planning to return to power by disposing whoever would lead the transitional government after current president Gloria Arroyo resigns.

[edit] Trivia

• Singson is frequently seen at Manny Pacquiao's boxing matches, even going inside the ring after Pacquiao's victories. He was at the most recent Pacquiao's fight against Erik Morales, where he was seen waving to the crowd after Pacquiao's bout.
• He also frequently attends matches of fellow Ilocano Brian Viloria.

[edit] References

• The Story of EDSA 2
• The Gangster and the President
• Chavit Singson tagged brains of Ilocos Sur killing
• Jueteng Republic
• 'CAVIT' SINGSON BARES GMA SLAY PLOT
• Chavit has ‘Erap’ tapes
• Showdown in the Philippines
• Impeachment proceedings
• The Impeachment Trial Witnesses
• Chavit bares audio CD linking Erap to oust Arroyo plot
• After the movie, comes the Chavit book

[edit] Additional Reading

• Limpe, Linda C.The 9 Lives of Luis "Chavit" Singson, Forsight Books, 2003.

[edit] External link

• Singson, Luis Personal Information