MALACAÑANG yesterday rejected any settlement with retired Lt.
Gen. Jacinto Ligot, former comptroller of the Armed Forces, and his family who
are facing forfeiture of their alleged P135.2 million in ill-gotten wealth.
Ligot has offered to turn over P21 million in assets in
exchange for the dropping of the case against them.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said government owes it to the
soldiers and the people to ensure that the case pushes through.
"We would like to state upfront that there are no
negotiations taking place involving the government on this matter, and we shall
let the law take its course. We owe it to our soldiery and the people to act in
their supreme interest and there can be no bargains in this regard," he said.
Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said the P21
million was "too insignificant" but the prosecution "remains open" to an
amicable settlement if the defendants come up with a better offer.
"What they are offering is too insignificant considering the
amount involved in the case. If we accept their offer, we would send a very bad
signal to other erring public officials," he said.
Ligot retired in August 2004. He was last assigned as
commander of the military’s Central Command based in Cebu.
His co-respondents include his wife Erlinda; children Paulo,
Riza and Miguel; sister Miguela Ligot-Paragas; and brother-in-law Edgardo T.
Yambao who allegedly acted as conduits or dummies.
Government lawyers said Ligot amassed the assets while
holding various positions in the military. The assets included peso and dollar
bank accounts, real estate in the country and the United States, business
investments and motor vehicles.
Ligot’s lawyer Rafael B. Zialcita of the law firm of Zulueta,
Puno and Associates, listed only 25 items with a combined value of
P20,930,115.96 as Ligot’s assets.
Zialcita explained that only those properties which are under
the name of the Ligot family were included in the offer of compromise.
He said his clients made the offer simply for the purpose of
terminating the litigation as early as possible. He said it should not be
construed as an admission of liability or as evidence against them.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said it is better to await
the decision of the Sandiganbayan on Ligot’s case.
He said if Ligot’s family made a formal offer through the
court, it would be handled by the Sandiganbayan which is an independent branch
of government.
Villa-Ignacio said any negotiation with the Ligots and their
lawyers will be handled by the team of prosecutors.
"It’s too early to make a pronouncement if we can reach an
agreement but if ever there will be a discussion that will lead to a compromise,
we will see to it that the government will not be short-changed or placed at a
disadvantageous position," he said.
Even if a deal is struck, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division
will still have the final say, he said.
Defense and Armed Forces officials distanced themselves from
the offer.
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who belongs to Class
‘70 of the Philippine Military Academy like Ligot, said: "It will be up to the
judge whether to accept that (offer) or not."
On Ligot’s offer, Ebdane said," I’m not in a position to say
whether it’s acceptable or not."
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public information office
chief, said the military is not making a comment because Ligot is no longer
connected with the military.
Asked if the offer meant Ligot indeed amassed wealth, Bacarro
said: "I cannot really conclude. I do not want to comment on the merits of the
case because, as I’ve said, General Ligot is already retired."
"It would be inappropriate for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to comment
on the actions that they are undertaking to resolve or to answer the allegations
hurled against him," he added. – Jocelyn Montemayor, Peter J. G. Tabingo
and Victor Reyes
