MANILA — Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson on Monday denied allegations linking him to the alleged escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa amid mounting tensions over the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against the former Philippine National Police chief.
Singson dismissed as “fabricated” claims circulating on social media that he provided a yacht supposedly used by Dela Rosa to evade authorities and travel to Batangas before allegedly boarding a helicopter bound for Davao City.
The allegation stemmed from a Facebook post by columnist Ramon Tulfo claiming that a wealthy politician — allegedly referring to Singson — facilitated Dela Rosa’s escape.
“Hindi po totoo ’yan. You can easily check kung umalis ang yacht ko,” Singson said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At the Forefront on Monday.
“Andun naman ang records. Hindi sila nag-check basta binalita lang nila,” he added.
Singson said records at the Manila Yacht Club would prove that his yacht never left port.
He also questioned the supposed escape route being floated online, saying the alleged helicopter flight from Batangas to Davao was unrealistic.
“Gawa-gawa lang ’yun, kasi ’yung yate ko hindi umalis dun, tapos imposible ding lumipad ang helicopter mula Batangas papuntang Davao, masyadong malayo,” he said.
The businessman and former governor further claimed he was being deliberately dragged into the controversy surrounding Dela Rosa.
“Gawa-gawa lang niya ’yan. Gusto niya ako i-connect sa kaso ni Bato, so ’yun ang plano nila,” he said.
Singson also alleged that some individuals had warned him about a possible raid on his property in connection with the issue.
“’Yung mga nagtitip sa kanya (Tulfo), nagsabi rin sa akin, ’yun nga ’yun sa pagtakas tapos ire-raid ’yung bahay ko. Okay lang (mag-raid), wala silang makukuha, ang kinakatakot ko lang baka mag-plant sila (ng evidence),” Singson said.
The ICC earlier unsealed an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, identifying him as an alleged indirect co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity involving murder and attempted murder allegedly committed from November 2011 to March 2019.
The tribunal said there were reasonable grounds to believe dela Rosa played a role in killings linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign when he served as Davao City police chief and later as PNP chief.
Dela Rosa resurfaced at the Senate earlier this week after months away from public view and took part in the leadership shake-up that removed Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Tensions escalated after National Bureau of Investigation agents reportedly attempted to serve the ICC warrant inside the Senate complex.
The senator later left the Senate premises early Thursday morning following a lockdown and gunfire incident near the chamber./PN
