Ligots could be held in contempt for evading senators' queries

The Senate will hold a caucus on Monday afternoon to determine if they will hold in contempt former military budget official Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda for refusing to answer the senators' queries during a hearing. Senator ProTempore Jinggoy Estrada said he would file the motion to cite the Ligot couple in contempt for refusing to answer the senators' queries during a hearing on Monday. “If he keeps invoking an invalid right, I will file a formal motion to cite them in contempt," he said. “As much as possible ayoko kayong ipakulong dito unang una magkakaroon na kami ng recess. E kung sagutin nyo na lang ayoko nagpapakulong dahil nakulong na ako," Estrada added. As only three senators were present during the hearing, Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona decided to hold the caucus. “Since we do not have the requisite number, we will hold a caucus later to cite Gen Ligot in contempt," he said. Senator Francis Escudero asked the committee to give the Ligots minutes to confer with their counsel, lawyer Raffy Zialcita, to advise them not to invoke the right against self incrimination in all the questions asked by the senators. Earlier in the day, the Senate failed to get any information from Mrs. Ligot who repeatedly refused to answer questions and often invoked her right against self incrimination. Mrs. Ligot, who admitted having taken 5 milligrams of Valium before the hearing, appeared firm at first as Senator Franklin Drilon threw the initial questions. She later shaken and even teary-eyed with the questions of Senate ProTempore Jinggoy Estrada. Mrs. Ligot refused to answer questions on the house she bought in Essensa condominium unit in Taguig and later sold to her brother, Edgardo Yambao and even the gifts given by her husband. For security reasons, she also did not answer the question on where they are staying as they were receiving death threats. Drilon believed Mrs. Ligot’s insistence on her right against self incriminate was not correct but still he did not push his questions. “I believe such right was not properly invoked. Mrs Ligot has properties far in excess of the income of Mr Ligot. There were deposits in your name, P700 million and P 40 million that went through your account. I’m as frustrated as anyone but we have enough documents on our file," he said. Blue Ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III agreed with Drilon. “The chair agrees that the right to self incrimination cannot be used (in such occasions) since it is clearly established that there is high degree of unexplained wealth," Guingona said. When it was Estrada’s turn to ask questions, he inquired Mrs Ligot if she is now ready to answer them to which the latter replied “depende po sa tanong." She answered questions on her age, her college degree, her job, her children, their ages, the date of their marriage. When Estrada asked Mrs Ligot if she had the chance to go to the United States, the latter started again to invoke her right against self incrimination. She refused to answer questions on the supposed properties in Cabernet and Stanton, California. She also refused to confirm that it was her signature that appeared in the documents on the two properties. She also refused to give a specimen signature to compare with the one on the documents. – VVP, GMA News