‘They will not silence me’ – Chavit

FORMER Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson has firmly declared that he will not be intimidated by the cyber libel case filed against him following his arrest on Thursday. In a statement, Singson said the administration was mistaken if it believed that filing charges and having him arrested would silence him. According to Singson, he considers his arrest a “badge of honor.” He also clarified that he voluntarily went to the police station to post bail and comply with the legal process. The former governor denied reports that he was arrested at his residence. He claimed that what should have been a routine legal proceeding turned into an attempt to publicly humiliate him after his booking or mugshot photograph was allegedly circulated without authorization. Singson also pointed to what he described as unusual circumstances surrounding the case, including the designation of a judge from outside his home province and the speed at which the legal proceedings advanced. He linked the cyber libel case to his calls for a thorough investigation into the alleged flood control controversy and the use of funds intended to protect communities from flooding. According to Singson, efforts to discredit and intimidate him began after he intensified his questions about where public funds had gone and who had benefited from them. “If asking where the people’s money went and who benefited from it is enough to earn a cyber libel case, then it only proves that these questions are hitting where they hurt most,” Singson said. He further argued that it was noteworthy that as details of alleged corruption continued to emerge, those speaking out about it were the ones being charged and pressured. Singson also claimed that instead of explaining how billions of pesos in government funds were spent, certain individuals were more focused on pursuing critics in an effort to divert public attention. In his message to Filipinos, Singson urged the public not to be intimidated, insisting that the real issue is not the cyber libel case but accountability for the use of public funds. He emphasized that no arrest, legal case, or political pressure would prevent him from pursuing the truth and identifying those he believes are behind the controversy. “The more they try to silence me, the more determined I become,” Singson said.