Ligot's wife breaks down during Senate inquiry

UPDATED 12:50 p.m. - Even before the senators could question her, the wife of former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot broke down and was escorted out of the Senate inquiry on Thursday. Appearing for the first time since she was summoned to the Senate, Erlinda Ligot was answering questions about her health but broke down after briefly talking with Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. "I'm not feeling well," she said. Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III had to suspend the hearing while the Senate doctors checked up on her. She was then momentarily excused after her blood pressure rose to 180/110. Mrs. Ligot was accused of purchasing several properties in the United States, including a house in Anaheim (reportedly worth $504,000) and Buena Park ($183,868), both in California. She has twice failed to show up before the Senate to explain herself. During the last hearing, she sent a letter through her lawyer to say that she was confined at the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). However, Estrada claimed that based on his information, Mrs. Ligot checked out of the VMMC right after the hearing. After Mrs. Ligot was escorted out of the Senate inquiry, Senator Franklin Drilon questioned Jacinto Ligot over his properties. However, Jacinto repeatedly refused to confirm his real address, citing security reasons. "I cannot confirm nor deny (if we live there)," he said. On the other hand, he invoked his right against self-incrimination when he was asked whether the accounts of his wife and children were transferred to their friends Maria Cristina and Antonio Laurel. "I cannot comment on that. I invoke my right against self-incrimination," he said. After becoming frustrated over the former military comptroller's answers, Drilon stopped questioning Ligot. "My goodness gracious, the public is as frustrated as this committee with how you respond," he said. As of posting time, the senators are discussing with former Solicitor General Frank Chavez the controversial plea bargaining agreement of former AFP comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia. Jacinto Ligot was the predecessor of Garcia, who is also accused of amassing more than P300 million in state funds while he was still in service. He was comptroller from 1999 to 2001. - VVP, GMA News