In his letter, Ronald Singson said he had come to the “painful decision” to give up his House seat not because he was succumbing to the demands of a “noisy few” in the chamber who were clamoring for his expulsion.

He said his decision was for the sake of his father who had all the right to protest such provocations from congressmen “because it was his name and honor that was mercilessly dragged into the tempest of my own doing.”

He paid tribute to his family which “stood firm as a pillar of support and never left me to languish in misery alone.”

“This unfortunate episode, a product of misjudgment and naivete on my part, reminds of the maxim: A friend in need is a friend indeed. For it is in uncertain times like these that the true worth of friends is measured, not at the peak of power, influence or wealth,” Ronald wrote.

He said he was also quitting in recognition of the “noble character and purpose” of the majority of House members who kept their peace and prayed while patiently waiting for the conclusion of his case in Hong Kong.

He said many of these House members were not even friends of his or of his family but they sent messages of support and solidarity that inspired him and became his source of strength.

He also thanked the “noisy minority” demanding his ouster in the spirit of Jesus who said, “if they throw stones, throw them bread.”

Finally, he said he was resigning “for the sake of my countrymen, the Filipino people, especially my constituents in the first district of Ilocos Sur, who look up to the members of Congress with respect bordering on adulation, and with undying hope for truly honorable legislators as exemplars of the highest standards of behavior.”

Ronald has started serving his 18 months sentence at Hong Kong’s Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution.

At the House, Chavit Singson hit back at some of Ronald’s congressional colleagues for insisting on expelling him despite Ronald’s having announced earlier that he would resign.

Congress ‘owners’

These congressmen acted as if they owned Congress, “they would kick a man when he is down.”

Singson said Ronald had actually made the decision to resign as soon as the case was brought to trial regardless of whether he was found guilty or not.

He insisted his son was innocent and that he only pleaded guilty in order to get a much lighter sentence.

He said that his own investigation showed that the drugs had been planted on his son by his political and business enemies, but refused to name them.

Singson said Benjamin Leo-bin, a suspected drug dealer who was with Ronald on the flight to Hong Kong, was not actually Ronald’s friend but one who just loved to tag along.

Leo-bin was arrested in November 2010 by the National Bureau of Investigation during a buy-bust operation inside a five-star hotel at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

Cynthia Balana, Phil. Daily Inquirer