Hold order issued vs Ligots

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday issued a hold departure order (HDO) against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda in connection with a P153-million tax evasion case filed against them before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

In a two-page order, BI acting Associate Commissioner Abdullah Mangotara signed the HDO on the Ligots, who are said to be residents of Unit 19-A, Lawton Tower, Essensa East Forbes Condominium, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Their other known addresses are at MC 14-Unit 201 Pamayanang Diego Silang, Barangay Ususan, Taguig City and at Block 2 Lot 1 Phase 3, Mutual Homes, Putatan, Muntinlupa City.

Mangotara explained that last Nov. 4, the Second Division of the CTA issued a resolution directing the BI to include the names of the 63-year-old former general and his wife Erlinda in their HDO list.

“Based on the foregoing and pursuant to Supreme Court (SC) Circular no. 39-97 (Guidelines in the issuance of HDO) dated 19 June 1997 and Department Circular no. 17 (Prescribing Rules and Regulations Governing the Issuance of HDO) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) dated 19 March, 1998, we order the inclusion of names Jacinto Castillo Ligot and Erlinda Yambao Ligot a.k.a. Erlinda Tecson Y. Ligot in the Bureau’s HDO list,” said Mangotara.

The BI said this is the first time that an HDO has been issued against them.

Copies of the order would be forwarded to the heads of the BI’s Airport Operations Division (AOD) and the Immigration Regulation Division, who would implement the order. The Computer Section has also been informed of this development.

They have also informed the Executive Clerk of Court III of the CTA’s Second Division and the Office of Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about the action the BI has taken.

It was earlier reported that the Ligot couple is facing several tax evasion cases for violating Articles 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for attempting to evade payment of tax from 2002 to 2004.

The three-page resolution of the CTA’s Second Division covers taxable year 2003 when they failed to report a total income of P165.4 million and as a result incurred a total deficiency tax of P153.2 million for the year, exclusive of interest and penalty charges.

The decision covers only one of four tax evasion charges filed against the couple at the CTA.

The Ligots have reportedly posted a joint P150,000 bail for their temporary release.