Ligot couple surfaces, posts bail

MANILA, Philippines — Former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda posted Wednesday before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) a P160,000 cash bail for the four tax evasion cases they are facing, one of which had resulted in the issuance of a warrant of arrest for them.

The couple denied they went into hiding after the CTA issued the arrest warrant last week.

The Ligot couple said they were out-of-town, and when they returned to Manila, they decided to immediately post the required bail.

Through lawyer Emiliano Bantog, the Ligot couple said they will face the cases filed against them as they maintained their innocence on the charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the Department of Justice (DoJ) that lodged the criminal complaint before the CTA.

The posting of the bail thwarted the nationwide hunt for the Ligots earlier ordered by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima through the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

De Lima said the DoJ will also secure a hold departure order (HDO) against the Ligots.

Earlier, the CTA had found probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the Ligot couple for alleged non-payment of tax deficiency amounting to P153.2 million, aside from interest and penalties, for taxable year 2003.

“After due deliberation and careful consideration of the information and the supporting documents, this court finds the existence of probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against herein accused,” the CTA said.

The tax court recommended bail of P40,000 for the couple.

The case resolved by the CTA covered only one of the four tax evasion charges filed against the Ligots by the DoJ.

They were held liable for taxable years 2001 to 2004.

In a complaint filed before the DoJ, the BIR said that the Ligots were liable for tax deficiencies of more than P428.07 million for four years starting in 2001.

The BIR also said that the Ligot couple did not declare a total of P41 million income in 2001, P103 million in 2002, P166 million in 2003, and over P148 million in 2004.

At the same time, the BIR said the Ligots deposited over $2 million in a local bank for their various transactions abroad.

In finding probable cause on the first tax evasion case, the CTA said that “the findings of the state prosecutor on the existence of probable cause that justifies the filing of an information against the accused must be accorded great weight. Jurisprudence states that if the information is valid on its face and there is no showing of manifest error, grave abuse of discretion and prejudice on the part of the state prosecutor, the trial court should respect that determination.”

As this developed, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the Palace continues to rally behind the BIR, following its proposal to seize the Ligot couple’s properties and other assets to cover their liabilities.

Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares had earlier said the BIR is considering the seizure of the Ligots’ assets here or abroad to cover the civil aspect of their tax evasion case.

Henares reportedly said the BIR may file an attachment or garnish whatever properties the Ligots have.

The couple was initially reported missing after an arrest warrant was issued against them.

Malacañang had called on the Ligots to face the charges in court, instead of going into hiding.

Rey Panaligan, Manila Bulletin