Former Narvacan, Ilocos Sur mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson is facing multiple plunder and corruption complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The complaints were lodged by Warriors ti Narvacan, Inc., led by Atty. Estelita Cordero, as reported by RH Val Gonzales.
In a three-page plunder case, Singson, along with former Vice Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr. and 11 other former officials of Narvacan, were accused of involvement in the purchase of nearly 10 hectares of allegedly overpriced land owned by Western Textile Mills, Inc.
According to Atty. Cordero, Singson and his co-accused supposedly profited around ₱100 million from the transaction, after the property was purchased for ₱149,961,000—far above its actual value of only ₱49,987,000.
Cordero said the transaction, which took place in 2019 during Singson’s term as mayor, caused a ₱100-million loss to the town’s public funds.
Other respondents in the complaint include former Vice Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr., members of the Narvacan Sangguniang Bayan, Municipal Assessor Arlene Debina, and Raymond Ang of Western Textile Mills, Inc.
Cordero alleged that the respondents conspired to defraud the municipal treasury for their personal gain.
Another group of farmers and fishermen also filed a related case of plunder and graft against Singson, accusing him of illegally occupying coastal land in Sulvec, Ilocos Sur, where he allegedly built a Santorini-style resthouse.
Also named in this complaint are former Philippine Tourism Authority General Manager Robert Dean Barbers, Ilocos Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rosenarie Jornacion, and members of the Narvacan Sangguniang Bayan.
The Warriors ti Narvacan, Inc. is urging the Ombudsman to file criminal charges and order the imprisonment of Singson and the other respondents.
The group also called for the preventive suspension of incumbent Narvacan Mayor Edna Sanidad, who was then serving as a councilor at the time of the transaction.
The complainants are likewise demanding the return of ₱99,974,000 allegedly gained from the overpriced land purchase.
In a separate corruption complaint, the group also seeks to hold Singson accountable for the alleged misuse of funds from the tobacco excise tax during his term as mayor.
“Panahon ni Gloria [Arroyo], bata na siya ni Gloria, nilalabanan na namin siya noon pa. Pero siyempre magkasama sila ni Gloria, walang nangyari sa kaso namin,” said Atty. Cordero.
“Alam namin si Chavit Singson siya ang pasimuno ng pagnakaw ng pondo ng Ilocos Sur, lalong-lalo na ‘yong sinasabi namin na tobacco excise tax; taon-taon ‘yan bilyones ang pumupunta sa aming probinsya,” she added.
As of this writing, Singson has yet to issue a statement in response to the allegations.
