The ethics committee of the House of Representatives may be expected to investigate the drug trafficking case filed against Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson if the issue continues to hog the limelight and places the chamber in bad light here and abroad.

Veteran opposition Rep. Orlando Fua (Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Siquijor) refused Tuesday to comment on the legal issues affecting Singson’s case although he admitted that the ethics panel is not barred from looking into the issue.

“The committee on ethics will have to investigate if the incident blows up into a national controversy and threatens to damage the integrity of the Lower House,” Fua said.

Citing the case of former Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, Fua said the ethics body may also move to consider disciplinary action against any erring solon once the court has handed down a final decision on cases filed.

It will be recalled that despite a lower court decision convicting Jalosjos on child rape cases, the Lower House allowed the lawmaker to receive salaries and file bills while awaiting for a final ruling of the Supreme Court.

Singson, son of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson Jr., is detained at a Hong Kong jail following his July 11 arrest at the Hong Kong International Airport by immigration authorities.

The young Singson, a second term congressman in Ilocos Sur’s first district, was reportedly caught in possession of 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of valium which are included in the list of dangerous substances banned in the Chinese territory.

Reports showed that the Filipino lawmaker faces a five to eight years’ prison term in the former British colony if found guilty of drug trafficking charges.

Fua, one of the most senior members of the chamber, will be nominated by the minority bloc as chairman of the ethics committee if Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. accedes to the opposition’s request that they be assigned at least a chairmanship in at least two House panels.