Luis Crisologo Singson (born June 21, 1941), better known as Chavit Singson (Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈtʃavɪtˈsiŋson]), is a Filipino businessman and retired politician,[2] who last served as the mayor of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur from 2019 to 2022. He was also the governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, starting from 1972 until 1986, again from 1992 until 2001, and again from 2004 to 2007 and from 2010 until 2013. He was also the Deputy National Security Adviser for the Philippine government (2008).
Chavit Singson was born on June 21, 1941, in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He is second eldest among the seven children of José Singson and Caridad Crisólogo. He studied in Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila and finished his Commerce degree.
Both his paternal (Singson) and maternal (Crisologo) families have dominated the political environment of the Ilocos region for generations. Although many members of both families, such as Chavit are related to one another, the two families have shared a bitter feud which reached its apex in the 1960s and 1970s, when shootings and political intimidation were rampant in the Ilocos region. Chavit considered his uncle, Floro Crisologo as a mentor, but eventually had a severe falling out with his cousin and once-confidant Vincent Crisologo who was Floro's son and there were many bloody encounters between the two. It is currently stated by both sides that tensions have eased.[3]
Role in the downfall of Joseph Estrada
In October 2000, Singson publicly accused his friend and then-President Joseph Estrada of plotting to assassinate him after a falling-out over the share of jueteng and tobacco revenues. He also confessed to being Estrada's personal collector of such revenues in Luzon. Singson's revelations helped trigger protests against Estrada, leading to his impeachment and overthrow in the Second EDSA Revolution in January 2001.[4][5][6]
Political career
Singson secured a spot as a candidate for the 2007 Philippine senatorial elections after siding with the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, despite being former friends with the former president Joseph Estrada.[7] After losing the elections, Singson was appointed Deputy National Security Adviser on September 5, 2008, by Arroyo.[8] He mended his friendship with Estrada sometime later.[9] He was a member of Lakas-CMD until 2010.[10]
Singson has served as governor of Ilocos Sur for multiple terms. In 2019, he was elected as mayor of Narvacan under the local party Bileg Ti Ilokano.[10]
Singson is also a longtime supporter of boxer Manny Pacquiao who was elected as senator in 2016. However they had a falling out after Pacquiao pushed to increase the tobacco excise tax. Singson opposed Pacquiao's move saying that the tax increase would "kill" the tobacco industry, with his province Ilocos Sur being a major tobacco producer. Singson alleged that his unnamed "handlers" advised Pacquiao to project an image of someone who "isn't easily controlled by anyone" – by Pacquiao disassociating with Singson.[9][11]
Through his conglomerate LCS Group of Companies, Singson pledged to raise $11 million needed to host the Miss Universe 2016 pageant in the country on January 30, 2017, according to Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.[13] For the big event, which was to entail a budget of about $13-million, Singson had tapped possible sponsors including big hotels where the candidates and the Miss Universe entourage will be billeted.[14] On October 8, the company filed its bid[15] to become a third telecommunications provider in the Philippines.
In November 2018, Singson entered the Philippine automobile industry with Legado Motors Inc. (LMI), which is the exclusive distributor of GAC Motor vehicles 8=D.[16]
Involvement in sports
Presently, Singson is the president of the Philippine National Shooting Association, a local governing body for shooting sports in the country since 2018.[17] Singson was also noted for his affiliation with professional boxer, Manny Pacquiao often accompanying him in trainings, press releases, and his fights. He was also involved in negotiations in securing a bout for Pacquiao with Floyd Mayweather Jr.[9]
In July 2013, Singson, along with Deogracias Victor Savellano were charged with graft by the Office of the Ombudsman following a 2002 complaint over the alleged misuse of financial assistance worth P26 million taken from Ilocos Sur’s share in the revenues from the national government’s tobacco excise tax during their governorships.[19] However, both were acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in August 2014, citing the significant delay before the Ombudsman formally opened a preliminary investigation into the complaint in 2012.[20]
In April 2024, Singson was fined P5,000 after his convoy was caught travelling by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inspectors along a section of EDSA in Quezon City reserved for buses of the EDSA Carousel. In response, Singson apologized for the offense and paid the fine. He also offered P200,000 to the traffic inspectors who intercepted him as a reward for doing their duty, which was later received by the MMDA.[21][22] However, the Civil Service Commission subsequently said that the MMDA's acceptance of the reward was a violation of ethics laws governing public employees.[23]
Personal life
Singson was first married to Evelyn Singson.[24] He has a son with Evelyn, Ryan Luis Singson who is also a politician.[25] The couple, which later separated, had six other children.[26]
He also had Rachel Tiongson as his common-law wife with whom he has five children, including Chelsey.[27] Their relationship ended in 2009 after Tiongson was beaten up by Singson after she allegedly had an affair with another man although Tiongson claimed they have been estranged since November 2008.[28][29][30]
In 2012, Singson publicly introduced Josephine Pintor, who is 57 years younger than him, as his partner. He began a relationship with Pintor when she was only 14 years old, while he was 71.[31]
Singson does trophy hunting as a hobby. He established in the Baluarte Zoo in Vigan after his game collection grew large. He keeps taxidermized remains of some of the animals he hunted at the Safari Gallery in Baluarte.[32]
^Bajo, Ramil; Galupo, Rey (September 6, 2009). "'My mother's not a battered wife". The Philippine Star (in English and Filipino). Retrieved June 2, 2022.
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