Luis Singson

Luis Crisologo Singson, better known as Chavit Singson, is a Filipino politician. He was a former Governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines since 1998. He ran for the Senate in the 2007 Elections in the Philippines but he lost greatly. Chavit Singson was born on June 21, 1941 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. He is the second among the seven children of José Singson and Caridad Crisólogo. His other siblings, aside from Evaristo (Titong), are Bernardo (deceased), Fernando (Dodoy), Maria Olivia (Honeygirl), Jeremias ((Jerry), Germelina (Germy) and Jose, Jr. (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 jueteng 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. 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.

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 1970′s, 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 Vicente "Bingbong" 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.

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 a position he has held for 50 years.

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. This is equivalent to taking more than US $10 million in bribes from illegal gambling lords as well as another US$3.4 million in tobacco tax kickbacks.

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 Macapagal-Arroyo resigns.

Singson had secured a spot as a candidate for the 2007 Philippine senatorial elections. He has sided with the government party, despite being former friends with the former president Joseph Estrada. After losing the elections, Singson had been appointed Deputy National Security Adviser, on September 5, 2008 by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In 2010, he is running for Governor on the Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Region under Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Other Information

• Born : June 21, 1941
• Birth place : Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
• Spouse : Evelyn Verzosa
• Political Party : Lakas-CMD (2000 to date), Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (1998–2000), LDP (1992–1998), Lakas ng Bayan (1987–1992), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1980–1987), Liberal (1963–1972)
• Governor of Ilocos Sur : 1971–1972; 1980–1986; 1992–2001; 2004–2007
  Representative, 1st District of Ilocos Sur : 1987–1992
  Councilor of Vigan City : 1963–1971