BREAK: Ex-military comptroller convicted of perjury
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller retired Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot for six counts of perjury.
In its decision on Friday, the anti-graft court’s First Division found Ligot guilty of violating Article 183 (False Testimony/ Perjury) of the Revised Penal Code in criminal cases marked SB-13-CRM-0316 to 0321, for making false declarations in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth from 1993 to 2001.
He will serve a sentence of one year per each count.
Other perjury cases against Ligot, however, specifically criminal cases SB-13-CRM-0311 to 0313 were dismissed, while he was found not guilty in SB-13-CRM-0314 to 0315.
READ: Ligot posts bail for perjury raps
Ligot and Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, another former AFP comptroller, were involved in a corruption scandal in 2011 after former budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa revealed that outgoing AFP chiefs of staff during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were allegedly given “send off gifts” amounting to millions of pesos.
The allegation was however denied by Arroyo and the military’s officials. /muf
