Belmonte denied complaints from the lawmaker that his colleagues in the chamber were prejudging him in calling for either his resignation ahead of the scheduled hearing in Hong Kong on Jan. 26 or to have him investigated by the House ethics committee for possible expulsion.

He said any congressional proceeding to tackle Singson’s case should be within constitutional processes.

“This is the essence of a democratic system. There must be due process,” Belmonte told reporters.

He said Singson’s case might fall under the umbrella of “disorderly behavior” as may be decided by the ethics panel and endorsed for plenary confirmation.

He earlier announced that the House plenary had already approved last Dec. 13 the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 15th Congress, including Rule 19, which contains the Code of Conduct for Members.

“The House may, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Ethics, punish its members for any violation of this Code of Conduct and for disorderly behavior,” Belmonte said, quoting part of Rule 19.

“But at the moment, due process dictates that we wait for official developments from the Hong Kong court and Congressman Singson’s legal moves,” Belmonte said.

“The House may censure or reprimand an erring member with the concurrence of the majority of all its members. It may suspend or expel an erring member with the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of all its members; provided, that a penalty of suspension shall not exceed sixty (60) days,” the rules stated.

The Committee on Ethics and Privileges, composed of 25 members, has jurisdiction over “all matters directly and principally relating to the duties, conduct, rights, privileges and immunities, dignity, integrity and reputation of the House and its Members,” it said.

Singson was on his way to Macau last July 11 when he was arrested at the customs arrival area of the Hong Kong International Airport for allegedly bringing in 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium.

But after removing the drugs from the bottle, which reportedly weighed 12 grams, and subjecting the narcotics to purity testing, the drugs were reduced to 6.6 grams.

The Tsuen Wan Court allowed Singson to post a HK$2 million (P11.3 million) bail last Aug. 19 on the condition that he would stay in Hong Kong for court appearances. Singson posted HK$1 million in bail, while two of his friends each shelled out HK$500,000 in surety bond which will be forfeited if the lawmaker violates the conditions of his bail.

His lawyer John Reading last week said his client was planning to plead guilty to possession of cocaine but would dispute charges of drug trafficking.

Belmonte said House members were not prejudging Singson in appealing to him to resign to spare the House from embarrassment and to save himself from possible sanctions from his colleagues.

“Nobody was prejudging him until it came out that his plan was to plead guilty. Before that nobody had ever said anything about it because they are all very conscious of the fact of the presumption of innocence in our country. From his camp, they all said he is going to plead guilty but to some lesser offense, that’s not prejudging anymore,” the Speaker said.

Rep. Eric Singson Jr. of Ilocos Sur’s second district, a cousin of Singson who represents the first district, appealed to his House colleagues and the public yesterday not to prejudge his relative and speculate on what he should do if he is convicted of drug-related charges in Hong Kong.

Eric Singson said he is confident that his cousin “will act motu propio (on his own) according to his conscience in keeping with the exalted position the people have elected him to.

“Whatever the court’s verdict will be – whether conviction or exoneration – let’s not prejudge him. It’s a little premature to talk about sanctions and penalties at this time. I’d rather think that as any other Filipino who is accused of a crime abroad, he needs our help and moral support,” he said.

“I think he (Singson) should resign out of delicadeza,” first-term Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said

He said Singson’s resignation would also spare his House colleagues from having to go through a long and potentially divisive process of trying him in the committee on ethics and then eventually expelling or otherwise punishing him.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said the House should take action against Singson if the Hong Kong court convicts him.

“We will have to await the decision of the court. At this stage, it is premature to discuss any disciplinary action,” he said.

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Representatives Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales and Walden Bello of Akbayan earlier urged Singson to give up his House seat.

“If he admits guilt, the gentlemanly, the decent thing to do is to voluntarily resign,” Gonzales said.

“We will not shy away from our responsibility to discipline our members, including expelling our own, but it’s a long process. To spare the House of this procedural compliance, and for him to do his district a favor, he should resign,” he said.

If Singson pleads guilty to drug trafficking or possession, there would be tremendous public pressure for the House to expel him, he added.

Singson’s father, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, has said his son was ready to admit to the charge of drug possession but not trafficking.

Hong Kong prosecutors reportedly want the accused to plead guilty to the more serious offense of drug trafficking.

“We need to observe due process,” said Baguio Rep. Bernardo Vergara, a godfather of the accused.

Vergara said if Singson pleads guilty then the House will have to decide his fate.

Paolo Romero, Philippine Star