Edgardo Yambao, the brother-in-law of former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot, was grilled during a Senate hearing on Thursday because of the supposed P255 million cash inflow to his bank accounts from 2001 to 2005.
Senator Franklin Drilon said records of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) indicate that around P255 million in peso and dollar deposits were made to the Citibank, Metrobank, and United Overseas Bank accounts of Yambao.
"Our records indicate that you deposited and withdrew in about three accounts dollars and pesos sizable sums of money," said the senator, who also chairs the Senate finance committee.
Yambao initially denied being the owner of the accounts but then recanted when Drilon asked if he would waive his right to the accounts as these were supposedly not his.
"Meron po akong account dati sa Citibank, Metrobank, UOB (pero) di ko matandaan yung figures (I had accounts with Citibank, Metrobank, and UOB but I don't remember those figures)," Yambao said during the hearing.
Senate President Juan Ponce asked Yambao whether anyone can withdraw and deposit money to his accounts without his knowledge.
Yambao, however, denied knowing about the deposits supposedly made to his account.
"So far wala po akong natatandaan (So far I cannot remember)," he said.
Bank records
Yambao then asked Drilon how they obtained his bank records.
"As far as i am concerned, hindi ko po winaive ang aking karapatan under the bank secrecy law (I did not waive my right to the bank secrecy law)," he said.
Drilon explained that the AMLC secured the permission of the court to look into his accounts on suspicion that he was a tax evader.
Ligot's wife breaks down during Senate inquiry
UPDATED 12:50 p.m. - Even before the senators could question her, the wife of former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot broke down and was escorted out of the Senate inquiry on Thursday.
Appearing for the first time since she was summoned to the Senate, Erlinda Ligot was answering questions about her health but broke down after briefly talking with Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
"I'm not feeling well," she said.
Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III had to suspend the hearing while the Senate doctors checked up on her.
She was then momentarily excused after her blood pressure rose to 180/120.
Mrs. Ligot was accused of purchasing several properties in the United States, including a house in Anaheim (reportedly worth $504,000) and Buena Park ($183,868), both in California.
She has twice failed to show up before the Senate to explain herself.
During the last hearing, she sent a letter though her lawyer to say that she was confined at the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
However, Estrada claimed that based on his information, Mrs. Ligot checked out of the VMMC right after the hearing.
After Mrs. Ligot was escorted out of the Senate inquiry, Senator Franklin Drilon questioned Jacinto Ligot over his properties.
However, Jacinto repeatedly refused to confirm his real address, citing security reasons. "I cannot confirm nor deny (if we live there)," he said.
On the other hand, he invoked his right against self-incrimination when he was asked whether the accounts of his wife and children were transferred to their friends Maria Cristina and Antonio Laurel.
"I cannot comment on that. I invoke my right against self-incrimination," he said.
After becoming frustrated over the former military comptroller's answers, Drilon stopped questioning Ligot.
"My goodness gracious, the public is as frustrated as this committee with how you respond," he said.
As of posting time, the senators are discussing with former Solicitor General Frank Chavez the controversial plea bargaining agreement of former AFP comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia.
Jacinto Ligot was the predecessor of Garcia, who is also accused of amassing more than P300 million in state funds while he was still in service. He was comptroller from 1999 to 2001. - VVP, GMA News
Acquired P300 million while unemployed
During the hearing, Drilon also earlier revealed that Yambao supposedly acquired P300 million in cash and assets from 1999 to 2004 despite being unemployed.
Drilon said Yambao retired in 1999 and did not file an income tax return from then until 2004.
Yambao, however, said it was unfair to accuse him of illegally accumulating wealth because he supposedly earned enough money to buy the luxuries that he has.
He said he has been a businessman since the 1980s, mainly a trader and item supplier to local supermarkets.
However, Yambao refused to reveal his income.
He also said he had undergone several "transactions" with some people for additional income.
He even said he had paid a final tax for the transactions through the bank.
However, when asked to present a certificate of payment, Yambao said he failed to keep the records.
Transfer of funds
Aside from the cash deposits, Drilon also asked Yambao whether he knew a certain Maria Christina Mercado Laurel, to whom the accounts of the Ligots were suppposedly transferred.
Yambao admitted that Laurel was his friend but said it wasn't true that the Ligots' accounts were transferred to the Laurels.
Asked to explain further, Yambao refused, saying the matter is still pending with the Sandiganbayan.
Yambao also pointed out he was not a "dummy" of his brother-in-law.
"Hindi ko rin po kasalanan na ako ay naging brother-in-law ng isang dating heneral ng AFP (It is not my fault that I became the brother-in-law of a general of the AFP)," he said.
Jacinto Ligot was the predecessor of Carlos Garcia, who is also accused of amassing more than P300 million in state funds while he was still in service.
Ligot was comptroller from 1999 to 2001.
source: gma
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