Marilyn Cahatol

Former Ilocos Sur Governor and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson holds a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Friday, September 19, 2025. Singson denounces alleged corruption involving contractors and politicians and urges the youth to join and lead the upcoming massive rally on September 21. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CHAVIT SINGSON

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176093727466220250919-chavit-singson-presscon-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Former Ilocos Sur Governor and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson holds a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Friday, September 19, 2025. Singson denounces alleged corruption involving contractors and politicians and urges the youth to join and lead the upcoming massive rally on September 21. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — A progressive group on Monday filed plunder and graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against former Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson and several local officials over the alleged misuse of public land and tobacco tax funds.</p><p>In a complaint, the Warriors of Narvacan, Inc., alleged that Singson, former Philippine Tourism Authority General Manager Robert Dean Barbers, Narvacan Tourism Lodge Manager Luzviminda Ramos, and Ilocos Sur PENRO official Rosemarie Jornacion conspired to privatize and illegally occupy the foreshore area in Sulvec, Narvacan, known as “Santorini,” by constructing a resort without necessary permits or environmental clearances.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/10/16/chavit-singson-denies-rumors-linking-him-to-jillian-ward-marites-lang-yun-1148">Chavit Singson denies rumors linking him to Jillian Ward: ‘Marites lang yun’</a></div><p>“Sinira niya ang aming paraiso de Juan. ‘Yan po ay dating public picnic grounds…marami siyang sinirang corals doon sa aming lugar,” Estrelita Cordero, representative of the Warriors of Narvacan, Inc., told reporters before filing their complaint.</p><p>Cordero said fisherfolk have been barred from accessing the area since then and were reportedly met with threats or violence whenever they would try to fish there.</p><p>“Biglang isinara niya yung aming grotto, yung mataas na lupa at ipinagbawal niya ang mga fishermen na pumasok doon sa lugar na ‘yon. At kung merong magtangkang mag-fishing doon sa lugar na ‘yon, siya ay binabaril, pinapaputukan,” Cordero said.</p><p>The complaint also questioned a 2008 Deed of Sale executed by Barbers that transferred public land to Ramos’ company without presidential approval. The group said the acts caused undue injury to the government and violated environmental laws.</p><p>The group also urged the Ombudsman to nullify the sale and order the demolition of the illegal structures.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SEPARATE COMPLAINT</strong></div><p>In a separate complaint, the group accused Singson and several other Narvacan officials including Vice Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr., Mayor Edna Sanidad, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan of conspiring to defraud the municipality by purchasing a 99,974-square-meter property from Western Textile Mills, Inc. for P149.9 million, although the land’s zonal value was only around P49.9 million.</p><p>The group said the nearly P100 million difference constitutes ill-gotten wealth.</p><p>The group sought the preventive suspension of incumbent Mayor Edna Sanidad, restitution of the alleged overprice, and their perpetual disqualification from public office.</p><p>Cordero said the group decided to file the complaints now despite the alleged offenses occurring in 2019, because they believe the current Ombudsman under Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s leadership will be more receptive to their case.</p><p>“Itong pagbili niya ng lupa na antaas ng presyo, ‘yung pagsira niya ng aming baybayin, 2019 lang po ‘yan nangyari. Noong 2019 si Duterte ang presidente. Paano ka magtatangkang kasuhan siya noon? Hawak niya si (former Ombudsman Samuel) Martires?” Cordero said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/10/16/chavit-singson-denies-rumors-linking-him-to-jillian-ward-marites-lang-yun-1148">Chavit Singson: Probe into flood control projects should start in Ilocos Norte</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SINGSON ISSUES DENIAL</strong></div><p>In a video statement, Singson denied the basis of the complaint filed against him, calling it a “desperate diversionary tactic and a renewed smear campaign orchestrated by political detractors.”</p><p>“These accusations are completely devoid of truth and fact,” Singson said.</p><p>He said the complaint filed by “a first cousin of a political rival” falsely claimed he profited P100 million from the sale of a 10-hectare property to the Municipality of Narvacan. </p><p>According to Singson, the fair market value of the property at the time was P8,000 per square meter, or about P800 million in total. He said he sold it to the municipality for only P120 million, which resulted in a loss of P680 million.</p><p>Singson also pointed out that the property’s current market value has increased to P20,000 per square meter, valued at P2 billion.</p><p>“The government, in fact, was the beneficiary of this transaction,” Singson said. </p><p>In a statement, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte said the charges against Singson were politically motivated.</p><p>&quot;This is getting ridiculous. Has freedom of speech already disappeared in this country? Now, anyone who dares to speak against the administration gets charged. So this is what they call the new normal in government?” it read.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/13/malaca-ang-slams-paolo-duterte-over-threat-to-get-back-at-digong-s-kidnappers-1614">‘Wala tayo sa barbaric world’: Palace slams Paolo Duterte over threat to get back at Digong’s ‘kidnappers’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LDOmibT920?si=h_wPIgNVu5R7GMDH" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div>

<p>A group filed plunder and graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against former Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson and several local officials over the alleged misuse of public land and tobacco tax funds.</p>

A group filed plunder and graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against former Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson and several local officials over the alleged misuse of public land and tobacco tax funds.

Group files plunder, graft complaints vs Chavit Singson, other Narvacan officials

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Group files plunder, graft complaints vs Chavit Singson, other Narvacan officials

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 20, 2025 01:41 PM PHT

|

Updated Oct 20, 2025 05:48 PM PHT

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Duterte

Ombudsman

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Chavit Singson

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