Second forfeiture case filed vs. ex-AFP comptroller Ligot, family

A second forfeiture case has been filed by the government against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and members of his family.

The case, based on a 15-page petition approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last May 28, seeks the recovery of P55.6 million worth of cash investments and bank accounts that allegedly form part of the Ligot family's ill-gotten wealth.
 
Ligot, retired since 2004, served as the military finance chief from July 1999 to March 2001. He and his family were accused of amassing P135,280,822.11 in unexplained wealth, including several hectares of land in Bukidnon and Rizal, posh condominium units, houses and lots in the United States, several vehicles, and millions of pesos in deposits.

A previous ill-gotten wealth case, filed in 2005, sought forfeiture of real estate assets worth P135.28 million.

In the latest case filed with the Sandiganbayan, the government is seeking confiscation of the proceeds of seven investment accounts in the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AFPSLAI) in the names of Ligot, his wife and children worth P1.2 million.

Government prosecutors are also eyeing bank deposits with Equitable PCI Bank (BDO), Bank of the Philippine Islands, Land Bank of the Philippines, United Overseas Bank-Philippines, Metrobank, and Citicorp Financial Services and Insurance Brokerage Phil. Inc. (CFSI).
 
Based on figures obtained by investigators, the CFSI account is under the name of Gilda Y. Alfonso-Velasquez, cousin of Ligot's wife who is also among the respondents, and holds the sum of P52.525 million.
 
Investigators claimed they have found evidence indicating “that she [Velasquez] is not the original owner of this account.”

The Ombudsman noted that based on CFSI’s explanation in a July 27, 2005 letter to the Court of Appeals, the account was originally in the name of Ligot's wife and two of their children, Paulo and Riza Ligot. It was transferred in the name of Velasquez with the submission of “Change of Account Title.”

“That most of the Accounts are in the names of Mrs. Ligot, the Ligot children, Yambao and Velasquez is of no moment. They had no sufficient means to open bank deposits or make investment placements in significant sums when the accounts were constituted,” the Ombudsman said.
 
Ligot’s co-respondents in the second forfeiture case are his wife Erlinda; their children Paulo, Riza and Miguel; brother-in-law Edgardo T. Yambao, and Velasquez.  — KBK, GMA News