SINGSONS OF ILOCOS SUR FACE GRAFT RAPS BEFORE OMBUDSMAN

FORMER Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson and other former and current officials of the province on Monday (April 13, 2026)  were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged misuse of tobacco excise tax funds.

Apart from Chavit Singson, also included in the complaint were former Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson and current Ilocos Sur Gov. Jeremias Singson and several former provincial officials namely Pablito Sanidad Jr., Joselle Gironella, Gina Cordero, Mildred Elaydo, Benjamin Maggay, Leopoldo Gironella Jr., Mikaela Karita Singson-Bautista, Constante Oandasan, Ronnie Rapanut, Efren Rafanan Sr., Francisco Arturo Ranches lll, and Art Constantine Oandasan, former and current members of the Provincial Council of Ilocos Sur.

The  Warriors Ti Ilocos Sur Inc. represented by its president, attorney Estelita D. Cordero, filed the charges.

Based on the complaint, the former and current officials of Ilocos Sur allegedly violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 8240 (a law that amended the National Internal Revenue Code to restructure and increase excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products) over the alleged misuse of the province’s tobacco excise tax revenues.

Cordero said the case stemmed from the alleged misuse of approximately P585 million from tobacco excise tax spent on the construction of the Tobacco Farmers Convention Center which began in 2008.

The complaint further alleged that after 10 years, the project was less than 10% complete and then abandoned, which the group said was a clear waste of public funds.

In a separate complaint, ex-Gov. Chavit Singson, along with the former and current municipal administrators of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, were also charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act. 3019 over the alleged misuse of public funds.