General, family transferred accounts to friends, says senator
MANILA, Philippines – A Senate investigation on Thursday revealed that the family of former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot had allegedly transferred several of their bank accounts to various individuals.
During the hearing of the blue ribbon committee investigating the fund scam in the military, Senator Franklin Drilon disclosed that Ligot, his wife, Erlinda, and children Paulo and Rizza transferred their accounts to a certain Hilda Velazquez, and a certain Maria Cristina Mercado Laurel and husband, Antonio Castillo Laurel.
Drilon said the information was based on the report made by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
The senator made the disclosure while he was questioning Edgar Yambao, brother in law of Ligot.
Responding to Drilon’s query if he knew Cristina Mercado Laurel, Yambao said yes, saying that she was the wife of his friend, Antonio Castilo Laurel.
“Sa aking pagsusuri ay isa po [Si Cristina] sa mga personalties kung saan nilipat yung account ng mga ligot…” said Drilon.
“Wala pong katotohanan yan,”said Yambao, saying that he had talked to the couple about it because the matter was part of a case filed before the Sandiganbaayan.
But Drilon went on saying that the AMLC report showed that some bank accounts belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Ligot and children, Paulo and Rizza, had been transferred to Velazquez and the Laurels.
