Former military comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Jacinto Ligot allegedly amassed P740 million from 2001-2005, P666 million of which was already withdrawn before the accounts could be frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Bank account details shown during a Senate hearing showed that Ligot kept a dollar bank account that contained US$8.7 million and peso bank accounts that have P300 million. Ligot did not disclose these, along with the US properties registered under his wife’s name, Erlinda Yambao Ligot, in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Newsbreak earlier reported about Ligot’s unexplained wealth in 2004. His wife Erlinda told Newsbreak in 2004 that she acquired two California houses with US partners using her income from selling jewelry and working as a caregiver in the United States.
But the Senate hearing indicated Ligot had 6 other properties in the US aside from those we reported on. However, the Senate failed to show any documents pointing to Ligot as the owner of these properties.
Ligot, invoking his right against self-incrimination, refused to answer queries about the said bank accounts during the hearing on the plea bargain deal with a fellow ex-military comptroller, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. Garcia is facing charges of direct bribery and money laundering at the Sandiganbayan.
Ligot’s monthly salary at the time he allegedly accumulated P740 million was P30,000. He served as comptroller from 1999-2001. He said that his wife, Erlinda, at the time was a housewife, while his son Paolo earned P20,000 from managing a farm. His daughter, Riza earned between P20,000-P30,000 as a call center agent. His other son, Miguel was a student.
Mrs. Ligot was asked by the Senate to appear at the hearing but failed to do so due to alleged health problems.