MANILA (Updated 12:43 p.m.) -- The Hong Kong court has granted bail to Ilocos Sur first district Representative Ronald Singson who was arraigned Thursday for his illegal drugs case.
Singson was temporarily out of jail after the Tsuen Wan Magistrate Court allowed him Wednesday to post bail set at HK$1 million (P5.7 million).
Representative Romero Quimbo (second district, Marikina), vice chairman of the House justice committee, made this confirmation after attending the case hearing Thursday.
Quimbo is part of the fact-finding team, together with lawyer Leonardo Palicte III of the House legal affairs, sent by the House of Representatives to Hong Kong to gather information on the trial of Singson.
Singson was also required to pay HK$500,000 (P2.8 million) surety bond, which was paid by Singson's two Hong Kong friends who will take him custody.
Although he was granted temporary freedom by the court, the lawmaker will not be allowed to leave Hong Kong and will have to report to a police station every day.
The Hong Kong court also directed him to submit all his travel documents to assure he will not leave the country.
The computation on the quantity of cocaine confiscated on Singson has also been changed from 26.1 grams to 6.7 grams.
Singson's father, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, and rumored girlfriend, Lovi Poe, attended the hearing in Hong Kong.
Singson's next hearing has been set to September 7.
Singson was arrested at the Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport last July 11 for possession of illegal drugs. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)