MANILA, Philippines – Retired Lt. Gen. Jacinto C. Ligot, former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller, surrendered peacefully to Senate security forces at his Taguig City residence last night.

His surrender came after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile signed his detention order following the recommendation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, which cited him in contempt for repeatedly refusing to answer senators’ questions related to his and his family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth – which at one time reached P740 million in dollar and peso bank accounts in 2001 to 2005.

Although the detention order directed the arrest of Ligot and his wife Erlinda, Enrile and Guingona spared Mrs. Ligot from arrest on humanitarian reasons. Mrs. Ligot is hypertensive.

Upon seeing several people massing around his house at 201 MC 14 BCDA, Barangay Ususan, Taguig City, General Ligot came out of his house and surrendered peacefully to personnel of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), headed by retired Air Force Brig Gen. Jose Balajadia. The OSAA security personnel were aboard three vehicles.

The Ligot couple did not attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing Thursday morning, citing ailments.

But Senate physician, Dr. Mariano Blancia, went to the Ligot house, examined them and later reported to the committee that the Ligots could have attended Thursday’s hearing.

The general refused to comment on his surrender.

He will stay at a 12-square meter airconditioned room of the OSAA until he decides to answer senators’ questions and not invoke his right against self-incrimination when the committee holds its ninth hearing next week.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada promised that he would only ask questions not related to the Ligot’s pending forfeiture case at the Sandiganbayan.

Estrada had asked the committee to cite the Ligots in contempt for refusing to answer senators’ questions on matters which are not related to their forfeiture case by invoking their right against self-incrimination. He said such invocation was not proper, hence they could be cited in contempt.

Balajadia said that during Ligot’s detention, only his wife, children, parents, brothers, sisters, and his lawyer will be allowed to visit him. Mediamen may also be banned from interviewing him while in detention.