Ligot's first night as Senate detainee 'silent'

Amid tight security, former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot spent a “silent" first night at the Senate in Pasay City, even as the chamber said it is up to him to decide how long his detention will last. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday said Ligot will have to explain why he lied to senators about his health, although he can try his luck asking the Supreme Court to order his release. “Nasa kanya yan kung sasagutin niya ang mga tanong ng mga senador at saka ipaliwanag niya kung bakit niya sinasabi sa abogado niya na siya ay maysakit, e wala pala (It is up to him to determine how long he will be detained. He has to explain why he lied to senators about his health)," Enrile said in an interview on dzBB radio. He was referring to Ligot’s telling senators on Thursday he could not attend a hearing that day on his unexplained wealth (including properties in the US) because he was sick. But a Senate medical team that checked up on him said he was fit to attend the hearing. When asked if Ligot may be detained until May when the Senate resumes session, Enrile said it is up to Ligot. But Enrile also said Ligot’s lawyers can also go to the Supreme Court and seek a writ of habeas corpus." Enrile said senators are not buying Ligot’s answers so far in the hearings. “Mawalang galang na lang ... (sa palagay ko), hindi siya nagsasabi ng katotohanan (To be brutally honest, I do not think he was telling the truth)," he said. Double security Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr., a former military general, said Friday he ordered “double security" on Ligot, who his men arrested Thursday night. “He was silent last night. Ganoon si Ligot, silent. Kilala ko siya personally (He was silent last night. That’s the way he is, I know him personally)," Balajadia said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Balajadia hinted Ligot may be detained until at least the next hearing regarding alleged irregularities in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which he hinted may take place as early as next week. “There is no formal schedule of the next hearing yet. The problem is that if the Senate is on break, it is up to the senators to decide when they will hold the next hearing. Of course senators have other matters to attend to. This is not the only investigation they are conducting," he said in Filipino. On the other hand, Balajadia said security was tight for Ligot, with only his immediate family and his lawyers allowed to visit him. Media are not allowed to interview him. "Ili-limit, ko lang sa immediate family. Kahit pinsan di pwede bumisita," he said. “I ordered security doubled for him," he added in a separate interview on dzRH radio. A separate report on radio dzBB Friday said Ligot was to undergo another medical checkup Friday morning. Senate sergeant-at-arms personnel served Thursday night an order from senators for Ligot’s arrest, hours after the Senate cited Ligot and wife Erlinda in contempt. Balajadia said Ligot’s blood pressure settled to 140 over 80, and his heart rate went down to 65. His condition is very, very good, like a teenager. Senate doctors and nurses were placed on standby on a 24/7 basis to attend to Ligot’s needs, he added. Air-conditioned room Balajadia said Ligot was detained in a three-by-four-square meter room with air-conditioning and comfort room, but without windows. He said there was no cable television inside, although one can still use a cell phone inside the room. But he said he felt sorry for Ligot, who he said he knows personally as they served in the military. "I feel sorry for anyone detained here. Even if the room is air-conditioned, you know you will feel bad if your privileges are curtailed," he said. Moreover, Balajadia said Ligot yielded peacefully when Senate men went to his house in Taguig late Thursday to serve the arrest order. “Nang nakita niya kami nakitang maraming tao nag-give-in siya. We didn’t have to force open the door. He came peacefully," he said. According to him, Ligot was in “golf attire" at the time, and did not appear prepared to be detained. When asked if Ligot had packed his bags, Balajadia said he had not. No relative accompanied Ligot to the Senate, he added. Balajadia said Ligot had not made any special request yet, although he said they will consider some health-related requests, as Ligot suffers from diabetes. He also said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III instructed him to monitor Ligot’s health. “Instruction sa akin nila, alagaan mo yan pati health. Baka sabihin na sa Senado hindi inaasikaso ang detainee. Hindi killers at hindi murderers and ikinukulong dito," he said. — LBG, GMA News