The Supreme Court of the Philippines on March 5, 2025, upheld the government’s forfeiture of around P155 million in properties and bank accounts linked to retired Lieutenant General Jacinto Ligot and his family, according to a 27-page ruling from the court’s Third Division.
The Office of the Solicitor General filed the case after investigations showed that Ligot and his relatives owned real properties, bank deposits, and financial instruments allegedly disproportionate to his lawful income as a public official.
The Supreme Court reviewed evidence previously evaluated by the Sandiganbayan and other lower courts. It affirmed that the government presented sufficient proof showing the assets exceeded Ligot’s legitimate earnings, which the court treated as prima facie evidence of unexplained wealth subject to forfeiture.
The ruling clarified that forfeiture proceedings focus on recovering assets rather than imposing criminal liability and can proceed through civil actions independently of criminal cases.
The Supreme Court directed relevant agencies to enforce the forfeiture orders and update property and bank records to reflect transfer of ownership to the Republic of the Philippines.