Chavit Singson

Luis Crisologo "Chavit" Singson (; born June 21, 1941) is a Filipino businessman and politician 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, again from 2004 to 2007, and again from 2010 until 2013. He was also the Deputy National Security Adviser for the Philippine government (2008).

Singson ran for senator under Team Unity in 2007, but lost.

Early life

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.

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.

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. After losing the elections, Singson was appointed Deputy National Security Adviser on September 5, 2008, by Arroyo. He mended his friendship with Estrada sometime later. He was a member of Lakas-CMD until 2010.

In the 2010 Philippine presidential election he endorsed the bid of Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party and in the 2013 elections he supported the candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance.

Singson has served as governor of Ilocos Sur for multiple terms. From 2019 to 2022, he served as mayor of Narvacan under the local party Bileg Ti Ilokano.

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.

On June 19, 2021, Singson joined the Nationalist People’s Coalition. In October 2024, he filed his candidacy to run in the 2025 Philippine Senate election. On January 12, 2025, he withdrew his candidacy due to health concerns caused by pneumonia.

Business career

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. 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. On October 8, the company filed its bid 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.

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. 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.

Legal issues

In 2010, Singson sued Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for libel after the latter referred to him as a "''jueteng'' lord" during a privilege speech in the Senate. The complaint was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman in February 2011, citing Santiago's parliamentary immunity.

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 taken from Ilocos Sur's share in the revenues from the national government’s tobacco excise tax during their governorships. 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.

In April 2024, Singson was fined after his convoy was caught by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inspectors traveling 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 to the traffic inspectors who intercepted him as a reward for doing their duty, which was later received by the MMDA. However, the Civil Service Commission subsequently said that the MMDA's acceptance of the reward was a violation of ethics laws governing public employees.

Personal life

Singson was first married to Evelyn Verzosa Singson. He has a son with Evelyn, Ryan Luis Singson who is also a politician. The couple, which later separated, had six other children. Evelyn died in March 2016.

He also had model Rachel Tiongson as his common-law wife with whom he has five children. 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.

In 2012, Singson publicly introduced Josephine Pintor, who is 44 years younger than him, as his partner. He began a relationship with Pintor when she was only 14 years old, while he was 58.

His youngest child a five-year old girl, was introduced to the public in an online show at Facebook Live.

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.

In September 2024, Singson underwent stem-cell therapy in Japan.

External links

*

References

Further reading

* Limpe, Linda C.''The 9 Lives of Luis "Chavit" Singson'', Foresight Books, 2003.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singson, Chavit
1941 births
Living people
Governors of Ilocos Sur
Colegio de San Juan de Letran alumni
People from Vigan
Ilocano people
Liberal Party (Philippines) politicians
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan politicians
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino politicians
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino politicians
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino politicians
Lakas–CMD (1991) politicians
Lakas–CMD politicians
Nacionalista Party politicians
Nationalist People's Coalition politicians
Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Ilocos Sur
Filipino Roman Catholics
Filipino sports executives and administrators