Ex-military comptroller wants forfeiture case dismissed

MANILA, Philippines – Retired military comptroller Jacinto Ligot asked the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the forfeiture case filed against him and his family by the Office of the Ombudsman, arguing they are facing a similar case earlier filed against them.

The forfeiture case, filed in June 2013, seeks the return of P55.6 million of alleged ill-acquired wealth by the Ligots.

But in a memorandum submitted to the court on Monday, April 21, Ligot said the case should be dismissed because it split the cause of action, after it had already filed a forfeiture case in 2005.

The 2005 case was filed against Ligot, his wife, children, sister, and brother-in-law, while the 2013 case names the same defendants – only replacing Ligot’s sister with a cousin of Ligot’s wife, Gilda Y. Alfonso-Velasquez.

The earlier case, seeking for the return of P135.3 million, is still pending in the court’s Fourth Division. 

Ligot and his family said the grave error should allow for the dismissal of the latter case.

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Additionally, the memorandum said the second case violates the rule against forum shopping, explaining that a similar case covering the same bank accounts has already been filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council at a municipal trial court.

In the latest case, the government is seeking the confiscation of the proceeds of 7 investment accounts with the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AFPSLAI).

These accounts are in the names of Ligot, his wife, and children, with a combined value of P1.2 million.

Also eyed by government prosecutors for confiscation are 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 Velasquez and holds the sum of P52.525 million, although the Ombudsman claims it is owned by Ligot’s immediate family.

Ligot, his wife and children are accused of amassing P700-million in ill-gotten wealth from the coffers of the military. Ligot retired as comptroller of the Armed Forces in 2004, but the year before he left the military service, he declared a net worth of only P3,248,003. – Rappler.com