The plunderer shows guile

IN military parlance, it’s called a ‘decoy’. That seems to be the role of Edgardo Yambao, brother of Erlinda Y. Ligot, in Jacinto Ligot’s gameplan. So much loot was involved, and he had already P740 million stashed in several bank accounts. But there was still a lot to be looted from the AFP’s rich coffers. There was Edgardo, jobless and with nothing to do, who would readily act as a front man. He seemed perfect for the role, although too closely related. But what could he do? Who could he trust?

So Edgardo becomes the willing dupe in the multi-million looting that is probably the first of its kind in this country. He won’t stand close scrutiny, of course, but who would suspect it would come to this? Ligot had covered himself well. Money was coursed through the ISAFP channels, a COA woman ensured things would run smoothly in the paper trial, the budget officer was part of the team, so were the chiefs of staffs. There were all conspirators who had millions deposited in safe bank accounts. So Ligot could do as he pleased.

The problem with this scheme is that his front man was a weak spot because he won’t stand a chance before the likes of Sen.  Jinggoy Estrada, Franklin Drilon or TG Guingona in the Senate. Drilon had called Yambao a ‘mystery man’ who could afford to buy a condo unit worth P25 million, luxury cars and have bank deposits worth several hundred millions – despite the fact that he was jobless and filed no income tax on the years that he acquired these riches. How would he explain his millions? This is probably why he did not show up for the hearing despite the subpoena.

Moreover, he did not have any address. In the purchase of the condo, he used Ligot’s own address. He seemed to have disappeared. Like his brother, Erlinda did not show up too for medical reasons. She had checked into the Veterans Hospital two days before the Thursday hearing and an excuse letter, with a doctor’s certificate, explained her absence.

Others like Generals Cimatu and Villanueva, former chiefs of staff who were pinpointed by Rabusa in the pasalubong-pabaon rites also claimed they were suffering from ailments. Cimatu for arthritic pains and Villanueva for kidney trouble.  In other words, some principals in the case had cooked up excuses for their absence. A coincidence or part of a plan to foil the Senate?

But Ligot and Garcia, erstwhile AFP comptrollers and found to have hundreds of millions in bank deposits, were present in their usual confident demeanor. Both seemed to have weathered the shame and dishonor of the recent public disclosures, but it was Ligot who persisted in his denials, despite documented evidences to the contrary. He denied he knew about the P25-million condominium, just as he denied knowledge about his wife’s purchases of houses in California when he was still the comptroller.

“Nabuking ka na nga, ayaw mo pa rin aminin,” remarked Drilon.

“Your honor, I beg to invoke my right….” Was Igot’s usual line.

I suppose shamelessness has its limits, but in the case of Ligot, he has conditioned himself to lie and lie,  and no amount of public pressure is too heavy to resist. I suppose lying is like second nature to him.