TO CA TO POST BAIL
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Photo evasion: Former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot posts
P160,000 bail to gain freedom while he is trialed for tax evasion before the
Court of Tax Appeals. His wife Erlinda (foreground) hides her face from the
cameras. MANNY PALMERO]
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 4, 2011 (STANDARD)
by Rey E. Requejo - Former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife
Erlinda on Wednesday posted bail before the Court of Tax Appeals, several days
after the Department of Justice ordered a manhunt for them on charges of tax
evasion.
The Ligot couple went to the Court of Tax Appeals to post a joint bail of
P150,000, belying allegations they had gone into hiding.
An order for the arrest of the retired general and his wife was issued by
CTA's second division last Sept. 29, which had prompted Justice Secretary Leila
de Lima to order the National Bureau of Investigation to hunt them down.
The Ligots declined to talk to the media, but their lawyer Emiliano Bantog
denied reports that they hid from authorities.
Bantog said his clients, who cut short their vacation, "voluntarily
submitted" themselves and were not aware that the warrants had been issued by
the CTA.
De Lima, however, was not convinced by the lawyer's explanation. She said she
has instructed the NBI to determine where the couple had stayed since the
issuance of the arrest order.
"I will wait for the report from NBI before determining any such liability
for evading arrest. It would depend on such facts or circumstances as knowledge
of existence of arrest warrant and intention of evade," De Lima said.
De Lima also asked for the issuance of hold departure order against the
Ligots before the CTA.
"They're entitled to provisional liberty pending the proceedings, that's why
you can never tell (if they will leave). That's why we want to be on the side of
caution. It's better to secure the HDO," De Lima warned.
Based on a Return of Warrant of Arrest received by the CTA last Oct. 21, the
Southern Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection team in Fort
Bonifacio said it could not serve the warrant of arrest.
The Return said that the accused are not residents of the address stated in
the order, which is a condominium unit at the Essensa East Forbes, Taguig City.
Court officers had said they also have no record of the Ligots' lawyers, and
have not received any pleading from the couple. They have no information on the
couple.
The couple are facing charges of non-payment of tax and five counts of
non-filing of income tax returns (ITRs) for taxable years 2001 to 2004.
The complaint was based on the Ligot's millions-worth of bank deposits and
his purchase of properties in Rizal province, a condominium unit in Makati City,
and a sports utility vehicle.
While he was military comptroller, his wife Erlinda allegedly made "several
bank deposits," including a $200,000 bank transaction.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
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