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Chavit Singson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Singson in 2023 | |
| Mayor ofNarvacan,Ilocos Sur | |
| In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Vice Mayor | Pablito Sanidad Sr. |
| Preceded by | Zuriel Zaragoza |
| Succeeded by | Pablito Sanidad Sr. |
| Member of theNarvacan Municipal Council | |
| In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2019 | |
| 18th Governor of Ilocos Sur | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Deogracias Victor Savellano |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Luis Singson |
| In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Deogracias Victor Savellano |
| Succeeded by | Deogracias Victor Savellano |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Mariano Trajon |
| Succeeded by | Deogracias Victor Savellano |
| In office January 1, 1972 – March 26, 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Carmen Crisologo |
| Succeeded by | Jose G. Burgos Jr. |
| Member of thePhilippine House of Representatives fromIlocos Sur's 1st congressional district | |
| In office June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Vacant Post last held byFloro Crisologo |
| Succeeded by | Mariano Tajon |
| Member of theVigan City Council | |
| In office December 30, 1963 – December 30, 1971 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Luis Crisologo Singson (1941-06-21)June 21, 1941 (age 83) Vigan,Ilocos Sur,Philippine Commonwealth |
| Political party | Independent (2024–present) |
| Other political affiliations | NPC (2021–2024) Nacionalista (1971–1980; 2010–2021) Lakas-CMD (2000–2010) PMP (1998–2000) LDP (1992–1998) PDP–Laban (1987–1992) KBL (1980–1987) Liberal (1963–1971) |
| Spouse | |
| Residence(s) | Sulvec,Narvacan, Ilocos Sur |
| Alma mater | Colegio de San Juan de Letran (BComm) |
| Occupation | Businessperson, politician |
Luis Crisologo Singson (born June 21, 1941), better known asChavit Singson (Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈtʃavɪtˈsiŋson]), is a Filipino businessman and retired politician,[1] who last served as the mayor ofNarvacan,Ilocos Sur from 2019 to 2022. He was also the governor of the province ofIlocos Sur, starting from 1972 until 1986, again from 1992 until 2001, and again from 2004 to 2007 and from 2010 until 2013. He was also the Deputy National Security Adviser for the Philippine government (2008).
He ran forSenator underTeam Unity in2007, but lost.
Chavit Singson was born on June 21, 1941, inVigan, Ilocos Sur.[2] He is second eldest among the seven children of José Singson and Caridad Crisólogo. He studied inColegio 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-confidantVincent 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.[3]
In October 2000, Singson publicly accused his friend and then-PresidentJoseph Estrada of plotting to assassinate him after a falling-out over the share ofjueteng and tobacco revenues. He also confessed to being Estrada's personal collector of such revenues inLuzon. Singson's revelations helped trigger protests against Estrada, leading to his impeachment and overthrow in theSecond EDSA Revolution in January 2001.[4][5][6]
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Singson secured a spot as a candidate for the2007 Philippine senatorial elections after siding with the administration of PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo, despite being former friends with the former presidentJoseph Estrada.[7] After losing the elections, Singson was appointed Deputy National Security Adviser on September 5, 2008, by Arroyo.[8] He mended his friendship with Estrada sometime later.[9] He was a member ofLakas-CMD until 2010.[10]
In the2010 Philippine presidential election he endorsed the bid ofManny Villar of theNacionalista Party and in the2013 elections he supported the candidates of theUnited Nationalist Alliance.[10]
Singson has served as governor of Ilocos Sur for multiple terms. From 2019 to 2022, he served as mayor ofNarvacan under the local party Bileg Ti Ilokano.[10]
Singson is also a longtime supporter of boxerManny 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.[9][11]
On June 19, 2021, Singson joined theNationalist People’s Coalition.[10] In October 2024, he filed his candidacy to run in the2025 Philippine Senate election.[12] On January 12, 2025, he withdrew his candidacy due to health concerns[13] caused by pneumonia.[14]
Through his conglomerateLCS Group of Companies, Singson pledged to raise $11 million needed to host theMiss Universe 2016 pageant in the country on January 30, 2017, according to Tourism SecretaryWanda Teo.[15] 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.[16] On October 8, the company filed its bid[17] 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 ofGAC Motor vehicles.[18]
Presently, Singson is the president of thePhilippine National Shooting Association, a local governing body forshooting sports in the country since 2018.[19] 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 withFloyd Mayweather Jr.[9]
In 2010, Singson sued SenatorMiriam Defensor-Santiago for libel after the latter referred to him as a "jueteng lord" during a privilege speech in theSenate. The complaint was dismissed by theOffice of the Ombudsman in February 2011, citing Santiago'sparliamentary immunity.[20]
In July 2013, Singson, along withDeogracias Victor Savellano, were charged with graft by the Office of the Ombudsman following a 2002 complaint over the alleged misuse of financial assistance worth₱26 million taken from Ilocos Sur's share in the revenues from the national government’s tobacco excise tax during their governorships.[21] However, both were acquitted by theSandiganbayan in August 2014, citing the significant delay before the Ombudsman formally opened a preliminary investigation into the complaint in 2012.[22]
In April 2024, Singson was fined₱5,000 after his convoy was caught byMetropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inspectors traveling along a section ofEDSA inQuezon City reserved for buses of theEDSA Carousel. In response, Singson apologized for the offense and paid the fine. He also offered₱200,000 to the traffic inspectors who intercepted him as a reward for doing their duty, which was later received by the MMDA.[23][24] However, theCivil Service Commission subsequently said that the MMDA's acceptance of the reward was a violation of ethics laws governing public employees.[25]
Singson was first married to Evelyn Verzosa Singson.[26] He has a son with Evelyn,Ryan Luis Singson who is also a politician.[27] The couple, which later separated, had six other children.[28] Evelyn died in March 2016.[29]
He also had model Rachel Tiongson as his common-law wife with whom he has five children.[30] 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.[31][32][33]
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.[34]
His youngest child a five-year old girl, was introduced to the public in an online show at Facebook Live.[35]
Singson doestrophy hunting as a hobby. He established in theBaluarte Zoo inVigan after hisgame collection grew large. He keepstaxidermized remains of some of the animals he hunted at the Safari Gallery in Baluarte.[36]
In September 2024, Singson underwentstem-cell therapy in Japan.[37]
Media related toChavit Singson at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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