Drilon puzzled by lack of plunder case vs Ligot

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Franklin Drilon said Monday that he cannot explain why former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Jacinto Ligot has not been charged with plunder despite allegation that he amassed hundreds of millions of pesos worth of ill-gotten wealth while in the military.

He said an official of the Anti-Money Laundering Council told the Senate in may 2008 has personally delivered documents showing Ligot’s bank accounts to the office of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

"That is a testimony under oath in the Senate. So why no case has been filed, I do not know. I do not think even a fact-finding investigation has been initiated,” he said.

Drilon said he remains stunned over the large amounts of public funds involving Ligot.

"Si General Ligot, 4 years from 2001-2005, a total of [US] $8,740,742 were deposited to his account, to his wife's account, to his children and his brother in law, and P171 million. This is all based on bank documents,” he revealed.

He added that almost all of the money was withdrawn and only around P73 million was frozen.

"Kung titignan mo ang SALN [statements of assets and liabilities] ni General. Ligot… noong December 31, 2002 ang kanyang total assets po ay P3.198 million lamang ngunit ang kanyang dineposito noong 2002 sa kapangalan lang niya ay umaabot ng $1,288,418 and yet his cash and bank deposits is only P400,000,” Drilon said.

He added that Ligot’s income tax return for 2002 only showed a net taxable compensation income of P199,250. “And yet in 2002, there was a deposit of about $1,288,418.9 in AFPSLAI [Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association, Inc.] and Citibank. In Citibank, in a joint account between Jacinto and Erlinda Ligot, P20,225,095 was deposited.”

“Samakatwid po in 2002, Ligot deposited in his, his wife, his brother in law's accounts over $2 million and P42.9 million and yet his ITR only indicated taxable of P199,000; his SALN only indicated P3.1 million,” Drilon said.

He compared Ligots’ mysterious sources of wealth to another military comptroller, Carlos Garcia. “Ganon din po si Garcia, the same pattern.”

“All of these things are really mind boggling. Where this money came from, we do not know. That is why we have taken our position strongly against any plea bargaining because of all these anomalies. The forfeiture case against Ligot only covers P135 million. The P740 million is not included here,” Drilon said.

“So all of these things must be explained to the public. Sana po dapat naman siguro may makulong dito para kunin tong mga amounts na nakikita natin na talagang di maipaliwanag kung saan nanggagaling-nanggaling sa conversion o suppliers. All of this, somebody must go to jail.”

source: abs-cbn