The Sandiganbayan yesterday convicted former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto C. Ligot of six perjury charges due to the anomalous statements he made in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth from 1998 to 2003.
The anti-graft court’s First Division sentenced him to six years of prison correcional during the promulgation.
Ligot was acquitted of two other perjury charges due to the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. His three other perjury charges were also dismissed.
In the charges in which he was convicted, Ligot failed to declare his ownership of a Bases Conversion and Development Authority condominium unit in Taguig City for 1998 to 2003. In 2000, he did not disclose ownership of Paseo Parkview condominium units.
His properties kept adding up year by year. In 2001, he acquired the Imbayao Farm in Malaybalay, Bukidnon under the name of Paulo Ligot. He added more in 2002, with a parcel of land in Tanay, Rizal.
Ligot also made improvements on the Imbayao Farm, made Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association Inc. investments, and purchased vehicles in the name of Paulo and Riza Ligot. These are one Toyota Hilux with license plates XBE-760 and an Isuzu Elf (XBJ-724).
Finally in 2003, Ligot failed to declare an additional Essensa East condominium or the proceeds of its sale, and a Cabernet property in Anaheim, California.
“The evidence thus far presented all indicate that accused Ligot willfully and deliberately asserted a falsehood in his SALN by consciously and knowingly omitting in his SALN the properties he knows to be in his and his wife’s name,” the Sandiganbayan said. (Czarina Ong-Ki)