No TLC for Ligot

MANILA, Philippines—They had crossed paths when both were still both in the military, but Senate Sergeant at Arms Jose Balajadia has denied giving special treatment or “tender loving care” to former military comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot.

Balajadia said Ligot was being treated like an ordinary detainee.

“There are speculations circulating that he’s being given VIP treatment. I’m not favoring anyone. I treat General Ligot no different from the way I treated Joc-joc Bolante,” Balajadia said in an interview, referring to a former high-profile Senate detainee.

He admitted knowing Ligot personally.

He said that when he retired as AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserved and Retiree Affairs in 1999, Ligot was also posted at general headquarters.

Ligot has been under Senate detention since Thursday night for not attending the last blue ribbon committee inquiry into military corruption and for lying to senators about his medical condition.

<strong>Responsible</strong>

He is being held in a small windowless room in the Senate basement with a bed, air-conditioner and bathroom.

Ligot was only being given extra medical attention in view of his condition, Balajadia said.

“If anything happens to him, they might blame it on me.”

According to Balajadia, Ligot is provided free meals that conform to his diet as a diabetes patient and is allowed to entertain visitors during office hours, and to go out for stretching under guard.

Except for the visit of his lawyer on the night he was detained, Ligot has not received any visitors from his immediate family, according to Balajadia.

<strong>Forthright</strong>

Asked by reporters if there was any arrangement to conceal Ligot from the media when he was taken into custody Thursday night, Balajadia said he was not aware of any.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, blue ribbon committee chair, had said that Ligot would be detained until he became forthright on his alleged ill-gotten wealth and stopped invoking his right against self-incrimination.

The committee had cited Ligot and his wife Erlinda in contempt for snubbing last Thursday’s hearing, but suspended the order for her arrest and detention due to her health condition.