Anti-graft court junks former military man’s plea in forfeiture suit

THE SANDIGANBAYAN has denied a plea by a former military finance officer and his family to dismiss a case where the government is seeking to recover P55 million in alleged ill-gotten wealth.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court’s Second Division rejected claims by retired Lieutenant General Jacinto C. Ligot that the law was violated when two charges for a single case were filed, as well as his right to the deposit secrecy.

These arguments have been discussed and answered in previous proceedings, it said.

“The court reiterates its findings that there is no violation of the rule against instituting more than one suit for a single cause of action,” it said. The Bank Secrecy Act was also not violated, it said.

Mr. Ligot was accused of participating in a scheme at the Armed Forces in 2011, in which retiring military officers were illegally given a hefty sum. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras