Ligot couple fails to show up for Thursday's Senate probe

Former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda will not be able to show up in Thursday's hearing of the Senate blue ribbon on the couple's unexplained wealth, including properties in the United States. In a letter sent to the committee, the Ligots said they were both not feeling well.

In past hearings, the Ligots repeatedly invoked their right against self-incrimination. With an accompanying medical certificate, Mrs. Ligot's letter said she was suffering from acute gastroenteritis and severe palpitation. Her husband, meanwhile, said he has flu. "We regret to inform you our clients will not be able to attend today's (Thursday) hearing. We have been informed by our clients last night that Mrs. Ligot is apparently suffering from severe palpitations and acute gastroenteritis," the Ligots' legal counsels said in the letter. "As for retired Lt. Gen. Ligot, he likewise cannot attend as he is now down with the flu," the letter said. Blue ribbon chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III received the letter at 8:29 a.m. Thursday. Don't toy with us Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile expressed disappointment over the Ligot couple's failure to show up at the hearing, saying he would not allow anyone to play with the institution. "It is my duty as Senate President to see to it that this institution is not played with by anybody no matter who he or she is," he said. Enrile said while it was possible that the two could be sick at the same time, he noted they did not attach to their letter a medical certificate to prove they were sick. "I will not allow this institution to be rendered inutile by anyone,' Enrile said. Responding to Enrile's observation, Guingona said only a receipt (reseta in Filipino), and not a medical certificate, was submitted to his committee by the Ligots. Enrile said the Senate doctors should be instructed to examine the Ligots and afterward produce a medical report to be submitted to the committee. The Senate president also gave out a stern warning against the Ligots if ever it would be found that the couple is faking their illness. "If they are indeed sick we will accept manifestation of lawyer. If they are not, I regret we in the Senate must exert our coercive power to see to it that this institution will function as an instrument for good and not for evil," Enrile said. Aside from the Ligots, retired former military chief Roy Cimatu also failed to show up, saying he had to attend to his 90-year-old ailing father in the province. Former military chief accountant Generoso del Castillo, meanwhile, also called in to say he, once more, has "flu-like symptoms." This was the second time Del Castillo has said he was suffering from flu. Meanwhile, Guingona ordered Senate doctors to go to the house of the couple to check if they two are indeed not feeling well. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News