Perjury charges filed vs ex-military comptroller

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman announced the filing yesterday of 11 criminal complaints for perjury against former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot before the Sandiganbayan for numerous false declarations in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) from 1993 to 2003.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales signed an 18-page order last April 5 turning down the respondents’ motions for reconsideration and affirmed its earlier decision on Sept. 8, 2005 with modification that the charges should exclude his interests in a firm identified as Parmil Farms Inc.

The ombudsman found Ligot’s interest in the company was declared in his SALNs for the years 2001 to 2003, as the SALN form requires only the declaration of business and financial interest.

The perjury cases form part of the Consolidated Supplemental Resolution which also ordered that forfeiture proceedings under Republic Act No. 1379 be initiated before the Sandiganbayan against respondents Ligot, his wife Erlinda Yambao Ligot, their children Paulo Ligot, Riza Ligot, Miguel Ligot, and relatives Edgardo Yambao and Miguela Paragas for the recovery of unexplained wealth covering the identified properties or the equivalent value for those already disposed of in the amount of at least P135,280,822.11.

With the Consolidated Supplemental Resolution dismissed for lack of probable cause, the charge for perjury and violation of RA No. 6713 was filed against Miguela Ligot-Paragas.

Records showed that respondents Ligot, his wife and three children filed their Motion for Reconsideration on Sept. 13, 2005 while Edgardo Yambao filed his Motion for Reconsideration on Sept. 14, 2006.

These motions were among several cases unresolved by the former ombudsman and were discovered during the office-wide inventory of cases directed by Morales upon her assumption to office.

The said cases were immediately referred for appropriate action to the Ad Hoc Review Committee created pursuant to Office Order No. 121, series of 2012.

The motions insofar as they relate to the forfeiture cases were earlier denied in an order dated March 30, 2012. Forfeiture proceedings are now ongoing before the Sandiganbayan.