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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Chavit defends family's ownership of construction firm in Ilocos

Chavit defends family's ownership of construction firm in Ilocos

Published Sep 20, 2025 12:48 pm  |  Updated Sep 20, 2025 01:37 pm

At A Glance

  • Businessman and influential Ilocano politician Chavit Singson defended his family's ownership of a construction company in Ilocos Sur, which appeared to have secured government flood control projects in the province.
Businessman and influential Ilocano politician Chavit Singson defended his family's ownership of a construction company in Ilocos Sur, which appeared to have secured government flood control projects in the province.
Singson, in a press conference on Friday, Sept. 19, admitted that his family owns Satrap Construction Co., Inc., which he also acknowledged to have cornered at least P2 billion worth of infrastructure projects awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
According to Sumbong sa Pangulo website, Satrap secured P87 million worth of projects dedicated for flood control in the province.
"Inaamin ko, sa amin 'yan. Tatay ko engineer, contractor. Bata pa ako sumasama ako, timekeeper. Dugo at pawis ang ginamit namin dyan. Negosyo ng pamilya ko 'yan (I admit that it's ours. It was started by my father, who was an engineer and contractor. When I was young, I used to join him as a timekeeper. We sacrificed blood and sweat for that. It's my family's business)," he said.
Singson said he already divested from the company.
"Totoo 'yun. Kung tingnan mo yung official ng Satrap, wala na akong pangalan doon. Nag-divest ako. Ngayon pwede na ako bumalik, wala na akong pwesto eh (If you will look at the list of officials of Satrap, I'm no longer there. I already divested. But now, for sure, I can come back because I'm no longer a government official)," he said.
Singson's daughter Regina Singson-Lim, and son-in-law, Wilbert Lim, are Satrap's majority stakeholders.
Meanwhile, his son, Ronald Singson, is an incumbent House member, as well as his other relatives, Eric Singson and Kristine Singson-Meehan.
The anti-graft law prohibits public officials from “directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity".
Asked about his comment on possible conflict of interest, Singson said: "Conflict of interest kung may sarili silang (if they have their own) construction."
Singson then hit President Marcos, who he once supported, for his administration's investigation into flood control projects anomalies. He said the Senate's probe is just becoming a "circus."
He also asked the Independent  Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate the flood control projects in Marcos' own backyard, in Ilocos Norte, as they were reportedly contracted by the controversial Discaya couple.
Although his family's business also secured flood control projects in Ilocos Sur, Singson was confident about the quality of their projects.
"Pa-inspect nyo project lahat ng Satrap, 'pag meron katiwalian, pakukulong ako (Inspect Satrap's projects. If there is any corruption, I am ready to be jailed)," he said.
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