Jinggoy cites Ligot and wife for contempt

Jinggoy Estrada was stumped by the continuous invocation of the Ligot couple of their right to self-incrimination. Mrs. Ligot admitted having land in Muntinlupa, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and other lands that she stated are included in the pending cases against them. Estrada threatened the couple with contempt. He contended that properties included in the forfeiture case are memorized by Mrs. Ligot but those that are not included are lost to her memory when facing the Senate committee. She however stated that she could go home and try to recall the properties.

On all her 43 travels abroad, she was invoking her right to self incrimination stating only that her first travel was in 1981 and her last trip she could not remember to which Estrada stated that it was February 20, 2004 flight number PR 102 to San Francisco together with the wife of former General Angelo Reyes. Estrada added that they departed together and arrived together several times.

Ligot admitted that his salary as P30,000.00 per month as a brigadier general. How can your wife travel to so many countries and who paid for it asked Estrada. Who paid for these travels asked Senator Escudero in aid of the beleaguered and befuddled Estrada who could not extract any answer from Mrs. Ligot. The reply was simple. PASENSYA NA PO KAYO YOUR HONOR, I STILL INVOKE MY RIGHT TO SELF INCRIMINATION. To which Estrada pushed for citing the couple for contempt. When Rabusa was asked who was paying for the trips from 2000 to 2002 he said the Executive Assistant of the constant companion books the tickets. According to Rabusa who was also a constant companion to the trips abroad, he confirmed that he provided around 10,000 dollars to the constant companion. Rabusa further stated that the “pabaon or allowances” reached around 200,000 pesos per trip. It is unknown however how much Rabusa allotted for himself and his wife.

The Senate hearings are pre-empting the Sandiganbayan court hearings based on the questions of Estrada. Attorney Zialcita, legal adviser of Ligot cannot comment on the Tanay property under sub judice and pending in the Sandganbayan.

Should the contempt order come through, if the committee finds it so necessary will send it to the address of Mr. and Mrs. Ligot as stated by Senator Guingona. However in a hilarious exchange between Ms. Ligot and Estrada, they bargained about the contempt motion. Asked of her preference on whether she should share a room with General Ligot if cited for contempt, Mrs. Ligot retorted that she would rather not go to jail. She added however that she would still give the same answer to questions posed by Estrada.

On the other hand, brother in law of general Ligot invoked his right to privacy on the probing questions of Estrada and Senator Drillon regarding the Esenza condominium property.

Estrada noted that the hearings are being hampered and setting a precedent for further hearings where the witnesses will be insisting on their right to self incrimination. With this they ended the hearing.

A caucus between the Senators will be held later on to discuss the issues of contempt and procedures.

Arroyo advises Tupas – limit cases

Senator Joker Arroyo has advised the House of Representatives to concentrate on only 2 of the strongest cases for the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. It is not the not the volume of evidence, but the quality of evidence that will count according to the Senator who led the prosecution panel in the impeachment proceedings of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Of the 150 Congressmen who have so far agreed on the impeachment move, 117 have pending cases with the Ombudsman. This includes Congressman Neil Tupas Jr. himself whose father, a former Governor of Iloilo has a pending case surrounding the construction of the Iloilo Airport. A lynch-mob is how one journalist described the Congressmen! They want to save their own necks by making the Ombudsman and the prosecutors disappear. They have to remember that it was not the Ombudsman who initiated the cases but private citizens from their own provinces. The Congress is set to vote in plenary on Wednesday March 16. How Can Tupas himself lead the Prosecution quipped Congressman Syjuco when he is considered tainted and biased? He will make the House of Representatives look stupid!

In the Senate, only 5 to 6 Senators are confirmed to vote against Gutierrez. These are Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Franklin Drillon, Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Teofisto Guingona, Trillanes, Jinggoy and Miriam. Senator Enrile, Senate President has assured the Ombudsman that the Senate will be fair in hearing the impeachment case which slated to be heard in May and if Arroyo is correct will be a long drawn affair.

The President has ordered the Liberal Party to support the impeachment move. Other officials in the administration had advised the beleaguered Ombudsman to just resign. For her part, the Ombudsman who is popularly supported by her office personnel and some sectors had stated that she would never resign from her sworn oath to defend the interest of the Filipino people.