DOJ to seek hold-departure order vs Ligots

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will seek a hold departure order (HDO) before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) against former militarycomptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda who are being hunted by authorities to face trial over a multi-million tax evasion case, Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima said she already instructed handling prosecutors to apply for HDO against the couple before the CTA after the long holiday break on Wednesday.

The DOJ chief revealed that operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continued yesterday their hunt for the missing Ligots pursuant to the warrant of arrest issued by the tax court’s second division last Sept. 29.

She, however, refused to give details so as not to jeopardize ongoing operations.

“But we anticipate that they will surface on Wednesday or thereabouts, after the long weekend, and post bail. In any case, my instruction to NBI is once found, the Ligots should be brought to the NBI for processing and detention,” she said.

De Lima has also confirmed the Palace’s warning that anybody who would be caught coddling the Ligots “will be charged for obstruction of justice.”

De Lima earlier ordered the NBI to hunt down the couple who have reportedly gone missing.

The CTA failed to serve the arrest warrant issued by the court’s second division against the couple last Sept. 29 for violation of section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 or the attempt to defeat or evade tax in taxable year 2003.

The same warrant imposed a bail of P20,000 each or P40,000 for the couple.

Based on a Return of Warrant of Arrest received by the CTA last Oct. 21, the Southern Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection team in Fort Bonifacio could not implement the warrant of arrest issued by the court.

The Return said that the accused is not a resident of the address stated, which is a condominium unit at the Essensa East Forbes, Taguig City.

Court officers said they also have no record of the Ligots’ lawyers, and have not received any pleading from the couple. They have non information on the couple.

The couple is facing charges of non-payment of tax and five counts of non-filing of income tax returns (ITRs) for taxable years 2001 to 2004.

The complaint was based on Ligot’s millions-worth of bank deposits and his purchase of properties in Rizal province, a condominium unit in Makati City, and a sports utility vehicle.

While he was military comptroller, his wife Erlinda allegedly made “several bank deposits,” including a $200,000 bank transaction.

“She also purchased several properties that included a Paseo Parkview Tower II condominium unit at Salcedo Village in Makati City; a $322,181 real property at No. 1240 Cabernet Circle, Anaheim, California, USA, and a $599,500 house and lot at 7102 Stanton Avenue, Buena Park, California,” the bureau said.

The Buena Park property was already forfeited by the US government, upon the request of the Philippines through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). The property was listed under the name of Erlinda Ligot.

Last April, the US government turned over to the Philippines the $132,000 proceeds from the sale of such property.

The couple is currently facing a forfeiture case filed against them in 2005 before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division for amassing P135.28 million in unexplained wealth.

No effect

The military, meanwhile, is confident that the recent developments involving Ligot, its former comptroller, would not affect its image even as it stressed that it is working hard to dispel notions that it is the most corrupt agency.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said it would be unfair to attribute the alleged wrongdoings of one person to the entire institution.

“The AFP should be judged based on what is happening now. It happened almost a decade ago. It is unfair for us to be labeled as (corrupt),” Burgos said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The military leadership has undertaken initiatives to curb irregularities and to ensure that its resources are used properly, Burgos said.

“We are continuously stepping up measures to address the issues and concerns about corruption in the military,” he added.

Burgos said the allegation involving the supposed corrupt practices of Ligot is now part of the AFP’s past.

“The chief of staff has been very serious in implementing reforms. Many tangibles have been achieved. He will be leaving a footprint or blueprint of reforms in the organizational structure,” he said.

Burgos was referring to the defense reform blueprint that AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. plans to submit to President Aquino before he retires in December.

The blueprint aims to promote the efficient use of the military’s resources and would include reforms on AFP personnel management and the military’s table of organization.

A Pulse Asia survey released last May showed that almost half of Filipinos or 48.9 percent view the AFP as an institution where corruption is most prevalent. The figure was based on the results of a nationwide non-commissioned survey conducted from Feb. 24 to March 6.

The latest figure is way higher than the 8.1 percent who held such view in a poll conducted in February 2009. Other agencies perceived as corrupt were the Philippine National Police (26.6 percent), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (18.2 percent).

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted amid the congressional hearings on the alleged abuses of some military officers during the previous administration. – With Alexis Romero