MANILA, Philippines - Ilocos Sur Rep. 1st District Rep. Ronald Singson may get a lesser jail time for the drug case he is facing in Hong Kong, a fellow congressman said Wednesday afternoon.

Marikina Rep. 2nd District Rep. Romero Federico “Miro” Quimbo said that according to the Philippine Consulate office in Hong Kong, the quantity of cocaine supposedly seized from Singson’s possession has been lessened from 26.1 grams to 6.7 grams.

Quimbo said that the new information “dramatically reduces” the possible penalty that Singson may face if he pleads guilty or if he is found guilty of drug possession charges in Hong Kong.

The congressman, however, failed to provide more information about the reduced quantity of drugs supposedly seized from Singson.

He said that there other developments in the case of Singson, based on his meetings with officials of the Philippine Consulate office in Hong Kong.

Quimbo, however, declined to provide more details or even confirm if the developments would be in favor or not in favor of Singson.

“Many information are based on private sources that cannot be disclosed at this point in time. At this point in time I cannot divulge. It’s still one-sided and premature. We still have to validate a number of things,” the congressman told ANC’s Top Story news program.

High spirits

Quimbo added that according to the Philippine Consulate office in Hong Kong, Singson has started to cooperate with them and has been giving Philippine officials information about his case.

He clarified that Singson refused to get help from the Philippine Consulate office only during the first 10 days of his detention.

He said Singson is being represented by a private lawyer.

Quimbo said that one another information from the Philippine Consulate office is that Singson “seems to be in high spirits.”

The congressman, however, did not say if the supposed state of mind of Singson is connected with the possibility of him getting a lighter punishment.

No help from Congress

Quimbo left for Hong Kong Wednesday morning to gather official documents on Singson’s drug case.

“I was assigned by the House of Representatives to gather documents, evidences and information on Rep. Singson’s case. We need all the evidence so we will know if we should impose sanctions or disciplinary action so that other congressmen will not follow his example," he said in an earlier statement.

He said Singson will face a Hong Kong magistrate court at 9:30 a.m.. He said the detained congressman is expected to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

Quimbo, meanwhile, assured that he was not sent by the House leadership to extend some sort of assistance to Singson. He said he is in Hong Kong to observe the court proceedings and get first hand and official information about the drug case.

He said “reports the Speaker [Feliciano Belmonte Jr.] has been getting is purely from the media,” and that the House leadership would need to get official information about the case before it comes up with a decision on the fate of Singson as a member of Philippine Congress.

He reiterated that the “integrity of the institution” is the primary concern of the House leadership and not the “individual representative.”

Quimbon also declined to make presumptions on what the House may do with Singson.

He said that the House ethics committee has not been formed and that he was in Hong Kong only for the House leadership.