High level fixing FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/21/2010

High level fixing

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 08/21/2010 Any which way it is cut, the arrest and detention of Philippine Rep. Ronaldo Singson on charges of drug trafficking, caught as he was at Chek Lap Kok International Airport en route to Macau on July 11 for possession of 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of Valium, has negative international impact not only on the Aquino government, but also on the Philippine Congress, that can hardly afford any more negative publicity, given the fact that a senator, Ping Lacson, is an accused in a double murder case and has gone to ground abroad, along with a new case, the accused drug trafficker who is a congressman, both of whom are in the media limelight. For weeks on end, there was no question at all about how much cocaine Singson had with him, when he left Manila and arrived in Hong Kong.  The fact alone that there were reportedly three applications for bail within his period of detention, two of which were rejected, on dates of July 13 and July 22, last Thursday, bail was finally granted, as two Chinese friends put up a HK$1 million bond. What this could mean is that from the day of Singson’s arrest, up till Thursday, there was no change in cocaine gram size from the authorities who arrested him. Yet all too suddenly, there was this decrease of 20 grams from the 26 grams, as the “new evidence” for Singson to be granted bail, as the charge has been reduced from drug trafficking to mere possession of cocaine, which is bailable.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100821com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Hypocritical society FRONTLINE High level fixing focus Jordanian journalists furious over new cyber crimes law