Prosecutor wants Ligot assets studied

The chief government prosecutor wants an audit of the assets of former armed forces comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot to determine which may be included in a possible compromise deal in connection with the P135.2 million forfeiture case filed with the Sandiganbayan against the retired military official and his family.

Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio made the proposal in response to an offer by Ligot to turn over P21 million in ill-gotten wealth in exchange for the dropping of the criminal case against him and his family. His brother-in-law Edgardo Yambao, one of the respondents in the case, made a separate offer to surrender P12.5 million.

"Maybe the government would be willing to let Gen. Ligot retain assets that he could have lawfully acquired on the basis of his legitimate income," Villa-Ignacio said.

"Maybe there should be a process when talking about negotiations. As of now there is no estimate yet. Our position is anything over and above what he could have acquired on the basis of his legitimate income should be turned over to the government," Villa-Ignacio said.

He reiterated that the amounts Ligot and Yambao were willing to part away with were "insignificant."

He stressed that an amicable settlement is a long process that requires the approval by the Ombudsman. In Ligot’s case, a compromise offer will have to be reviewed first by Cornelio Subido, chief of the prosecution panel, and later by the deputy special prosecutor.

Their recommendation will undergo another review by the chief state prosecutor who will submit it to the Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for final decision.

"It is only when it is approved by Gutierrez that the same will be presented to the court for acceptance. So, it is a long process. Initially at my level, and given the figures being mentioned now in the newspaper, it is a ‘no go’ for any settlement," said Villa-Ignacio.

Villa-Ignacio earlier said that nothing less than a "complete restitution of civil liability" would satisfy the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

"That is our minimum requirement, along with the conditions that they serve out even a reduced jail term and be absolutely disqualified from holding public office in the future," Villa-Ignacio had said.

Aside from Ligot and Yambao, the other respondents in the case are Ligot’s wife Erlinda, and their children Paulo, Riza and Miguel; and Ligot’s sister Dr. Miguela Ligot-Paragas.