Philippines army general denies evading $10m in taxes

A retired Philippine military general and his wife on Monday pleaded “not guilty” when arraigned before a special court for evading to pay taxes of close to $10 million.

Retired major general Jacinto Ligot and his wife entered their plea before the Court of Tax Appeals on the tax evasion case filed against them by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Ligot served as the comptroller (chief finance officer) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) where he was alleged to have amassed close to $10 million in unexplained wealth.

Another former AFP comptroller retired major general Carlos Garcia is now serving a two-year jail term imposed by a military court for misconduct for enriching himself while in office.

Both Ligot and Garcia are facing before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court separate charges of plunder, a non-bailable offense which also carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The two were among the ranking retired and incumbent senior military generals linked to the alleged illegal diversion of huge funds intended mainly for the purchase of the basic needs of the ordinary foots soldiers like food, combat boots, uniforms and weaponry. -By Manolo B. Jara

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/98495e0d-46aa-4ec7-9178-6c4537adf521.aspx

 

Category: Philippines