Ligot, wife show up at DOJ hearing on P428-million tax evasion case

MANILA, Philippines -  Former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda showed up at the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday for a hearing on the P428-million tax evasion case against them, but only to request for 10 more days to prepare their counter-affidavits.

Assisted by their lawyer Rafael Zialcita, the Ligots requested for more time from investigating Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Mariano to answer charges of tax evasion filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last month.

The BIR case stemmed from their alleged failure to pay taxes and file income tax returns from 2001 to 2004. The hearing was reset to April 18.

Just like her Senate appearance, Mrs. Ligot complained of feeling sick.

A staff from the DOJ clinic was called in to check Mrs. Ligot’s blood pressure, which was 160/100.

In the Senate inquiry into alleged corruption in the military, Mrs. Ligot evaded questions by complaining of hypertension and invoking her right against self-incrimination.

The couple immediately left the building without taking questions from media.

Zialcita later told reporters that they had to seek more time to answer the charges because they only received a copy of the charges against them last March 28, or eight days before the hearing when Gen. Ligot was still under Senate custody.

“He was only able to read it when he was already released from Senate custody, so we did not have sufficient time to file counter-affidavit today,” he explained.

Asked if his clients really did not file their ITRs as alleged by the BIR, the lawyer replied: “I don’t know, I haven’t seen the records. As far as I know, they did not. But there must be a good reason for it if and when they really did not file it.”

Zialcita also said they are studying their answer to the BIR complaint as it might have an impact on pending cases of his clients in the Sandiganbayan.

In its complaint, the BIR accused the Ligots of eight counts of various tax charges based on their recent disclosures before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigating alleged corruption in the Armed Forces and on records from the anti-graft court.

The BIR, led by Commissioner Kim Henares, filed the case against the Ligots on March 10. The BIR said the couple committed “eight counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and five counts for willful failure to file their income tax returns covering the taxable years 2001 to 2004.”

In filing the case, the BIR noted Ligot’s millions of pesos worth of bank deposits as well as his purchase of properties in Rizal province, a condominium unit in Makati City, and a sport utility vehicle.

While he was military comptroller, his wife Erlinda allegedly made “several bank deposits,” including a transaction worth $200,000.

“She also purchased several properties that included a Paseo Parkview Tower II condominium unit at Salcedo Village in Makati City, a $322,181 real property at No. 1240 Cabernet Circle, Anaheim, California, USA, and a $599,500 house and lot at 7102 Stanton Avenue, Buenas Park, California,” the BIR complaint read.

In one of the Senate hearings, the former military comptroller claimed he had no knowledge of his wife’s travels and acquisition of properties abroad.

The couple is also facing a forfeiture case filed against them in 2005 before the Sandiganbayan fourth division for allegedly amassing P135.28 million in unexplained wealth.