This must be what is in the minds of the members of the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives being chaired by Cong. Erico B. Aumentado when they deliberate on the case of Cong. Ronald Singson. Singson admitted to drug trafficking in a Hong Kong Court hearing after he was caught with 26.1 grams of cocaine and several tablets of valium in his possession when he landed in Hong Kong International Airport en route to Macau for a gambling spree. Singson said he brought the contraband for his own use but Hong Kong law considers possession of illegal drugs in an airport a trafficking offense.
The public has always been clamoring for honesty in government and honest government officials and employees. Here is one official who is honest. How else would one describe Singson's admission to drug trafficking and drug addiction? He said he has been a user since 2004 and he consumes a maximum of five (5) grams of illegal drugs every day. Isn't that honesty? He should be awarded for his honesty. His colleagues in Congress should consider awarding him the way they have awarded Manny Pacquiao for bringing honor and pride to his country and people when he won his 8 th boxing division belt against Antonio Margarito. Then after awarding him they should strip him of his “belt” as Member of the House of Representatives and throw him out of its hall permanently for bringing shame and disgrace to the August Assembly. A drug addict, and granting that he is not an illegal drug trafficker, has no place in the House of Representatives. He has not only shamed himself but disgraced his constituents and the Filipino people.
We have seen worst scenes of congressmen slugging, boxing and throwing chairs and tables at each other but that is because they have just become unruly children who could not control their emotions. But a drug addict? That's unconscionable. It is providential that he was caught in Hong Kong where the clout and influence of the Singson's do not extend. I wonder what could have happened had he been caught at our airport. It would have been easy to deny possession of the contraband. And perhaps Congress would even censure the apprehending officer for accusing an Honorable Member of the House of Representatives of the offense. As it is, Singson, by his admission in Court, albeit in Hong Kong, that he is a drug addict and a trafficker, has made the job of Cong. Aumentado and his colleagues in the Committee on Ethics easy to do and conclude. Any recommendation other than expulsion could be subject to suspicion. No upright Member of the Committee would agree to a couple of push ups as sanction. Having worked with Cong. Aumentado for nine (9) years, I know him to be an upright person and public official.
So will the House Committee on Ethics recommend to jail or forgive the pusher? The only thing they can find out now, since Singson has admitted to the charge of illegal trafficking, is whether Cong. Singson is just an addict or a trafficker. Singson's plea at the hearing is that he was just a user and the contraband drug was for his personal use. His drug test however proved him negative of the substance. So ano ba talaga kuya? Addict ka ba or trafficker? Whatever is the case, you should let go of Congress to save it and your family and constituents from eternal shame. |
