AFP urges Ligots to cooperate

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged yesterday its officials as well as others with information about corruption in the military to help concerned authorities, particularly the Senate, uncover the truth.

“We ask everyone concerned to help us uncover the truth. This does not necessarily pertain to them (Ligots) alone but to everyone who knows something about the case,” Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said, referring to former comptroller Jacinto Ligot who had repeatedly invoked his right against self incrimination when asked in Senate hearings about his alleged staggering bank deposits and real properties here and abroad.

“We are the aggrieved party so we really want to find out the truth,” Mabanta told The STAR in a phone interview

Mabanta was reacting to the outcome of last Thursday’s Senate hearing where Edgardo Yambao, Ligot’s brother-in-law, repeatedly invoked his rights to privacy and against self-incrimination to avoid being compelled to explain more than P300 million in bank deposits. Yambao was being accused of serving as dummy for Ligot, who was believed to have used his position as comptroller to amass wealth.

In the same hearing, Ligot’s wife Erlinda, who is said to be the owner of 10 properties in the US, suffered frm hypertension and had to be excused from the proceedings.

Mabanta said they would prefer that Erlinda testify so she can present her side.

He also said they were confident the truth would come out despite the Ligots’ refusal to give substantial information to the Senate.

“Apparently, they (Ligots) have been invoking their rights. In the end, we will know the truth. We are confident that others will shed light (on the controversy),” he said.

Mabanta stressed that they would support any military personnel who would come out to speak about the alleged misuse of funds in the AFP.

He also said they were hopeful the congressional inquiries would pave the way for more measures that would prevent misuse of funds. 

Ligot, a member of Philippine Military Academy class ’70, was the predecessor of discharged military comptroller Carlos Garcia, who is facing plunder charges.

On Thursday, Sen. Franklin Drilon failed to make Yambao explain his ownership of a P25-million condominium unit at Essensa East Forbes in The Fort, Taguig, and luxury vehicles amounting to about P30 million.

Yambao also refused to confirm or deny ownership of a P1.4-million unit at One Burgundy Plaza in Loyola Heights, Katipunan, Quezon City.

It was also discovered during the hearings that Yambao had no taxable income between 1999 and 2003, prompting Drilon to ask the tax bureau to build a tax evasion case against him.

Drilon said that based on reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Yambao had about P300 million in questionable accounts. Of the amount, only $20,573 and P614,605.96 were frozen by authorities.

Yambao belied accusations that he served as a dummy for Ligot and chided Drilon for his allegations, saying he had never waived his rights under the Bank Secrecy law.

Yambao also claimed profits from his businesses enabled him to purchase properties and vehicles.

“It’s not my fault to be the brother-in-law of a former general. And it’s not my fault as a private citizen to be successful in business and to be able to buy properties like condominiums, cars. I’m just an ordinary citizen,” he said.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday agreed to let Ligot’s wife Erlinda skip Senate grilling after her blood pressure shot up.

In previous hearings, Estrada said 10 houses in the US, mostly in California, were in Erlinda’s name.

Estrada had also revealed that Erlinda and Teresita Reyes, wife of former AFP chief Angelo Reyes, traveled together at least 13 times from 1999 to 2004.

Citing immigration data, Estrada said Reyes and Erlinda had traveled to San Francisco, California, Hong Kong, Singapore Bandar Seri Begawan, and California.

He said Erlinda was able to travel 42 times to the US, Singapore, and Hong Kong from 1993-2004 despite her husband’s meager salary. – With Christina Mendez