At last, a concrete picture of who really used the soldiers' funds!
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27562)
Philippines
March 29, 2011 9:32pm CST
The narration of Erlinda Ligot at the senate floor in the last hearing about the Armed Forces Fund Scam was minimal. She mentioned a few names, wives of generals and other officers of the corps, slot machine, hotel, travel mileage, tickets, Giordano, shopping, and a lot of I don't knows! But that is enough to give us a picture of who used the money allotted for soldiers' boots and bullets: the gallivanting, frolicking senseless better halves of the men in uniform. The Ladies' Club, supposed to be the women behind the success of the men, they were the ones who spent the money.
This is stomach revolting! Wives, mothers, grandmothers... no wonder why one general took his own life, to protect his family who didn't even stop to think that their wealth might be tainted.
1 person likes this
15 responses
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 Mar 11
That's the main reason I don't give to charities...that I don't know. There are so many, how are we to know the "Real" ones? And even those like the Red Cross and such, I am sure if they looked closely, they'd find some of this same thing going on. But at least you can see alot of what Red Cross does. Hard to know what to do...don't give to those that are protecting us, but if you give, you don't know if it is going to them. Kind of like the rest of this government...all the expense accounts and "company paid" items the congress and senate and ALL government personal get at our tax expense. So, what are we to do?
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
I read somewhere that the fastest way to hell is to rob the poor, the sick and the needy of what is due them. That said, I am really aghast at how these robbers channel the funds to their own pockets. To think that the donees were calamity victims!
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
Very true. We also have here a number of donate-for-Japan gigs. There was one org that marketed a Php 50 drink for Japan. And they were partying!
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
I don;t think you should blame the wives, mothers and daughters. Blame the Generals and other AFP Officials who received the money, not those who used them.
The current system supports the officers without regard to the soldiers. The system should be changed and the AFP's budget should tightened. The wealth of these Generals and officials should be considered prima facie evidence of corruption as an exception to the general rule on innocent until proven guilty. They should be the ones to prove that they acquired their wealth legitimately.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
The corrupt generals were fools, that is a given. But it takes a better half to put some sense into an erring spouse. Don't you think so? A better half must enhance the partner to become a better person, not contribute more to their foolishness and corruption.
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
For most of the couples, when they were married, the soldiers were mere lieutenants assigned in the battlefields...
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
4 Apr 11
Correct me if I am wrong, but weren't these spouses attracted to the power and money of the general? If so, then it is also a given that you cannot expect them to convince their spouses away from the money and the power right?
1 person likes this
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
GREEDY SELFISH People! They only thought of their ownselves and have not thought of others when they have spent millions. There are so many military wives out their still working their as* off because their military spouse's pay are low and it is not enough. I am speaking out of experience since my dad was in military - he just retired. It is indeed revolting and a shame.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
My auntie, a retired soldier's wife, also said her husband had sacrificed his family just to keep the barracks in Mindanao impenetrable. He thought the funding was really difficult. He didn't know that their base could have been formidable.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
2 Apr 11
Yes, my dad mentioned that before, they're uniforms also arrive late and their subsidies are slow. tsk tsk.
1 person likes this
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
concrete proof that this country is run by women. Those generals may project a very brave and strong image but in reality they're just a bunch of "andres de sayas". But who can blame them? who want's to sleep outside the "kulambo"? i bet no one, especially if the wife is a looker. But then, it takes two to tango.
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@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
Cut it out, 007, before a gender was begins. You know very well that men cannot do anything without women. Useless each without the other!
.
@jacrosealbert (107)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
I think the late general already knows that sooner or later his wife would be involve in this AFP fund scam so he did what he think was right so he killed himself. and i think he should be applauded because he was right. Look! no senator in that hearing would even say his wife's name for the sake of the late general! How absurd! Urghhhh......
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
The law is: you cannot prosecute one for the crime of another. The senators must be having a bad hair day. They must know that the more they conceal anything, the more the people become curious and angrier. So, let the truth be spelled out loud.
And senators, they are not entitled to bad hair days. The stipend is too large they can afford the most expensive salon.
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
31 Mar 11
at last there is a movement in this investigation of which almost everybody is tired of because of the never ending same answers of the ligot couple. I do wish more progress and revelations so that we are able to get back the money that was used for their lavish lifestyles. I dont know what happened to their consciences when it is the peoples money they are using to live a well off life and leaving most Filipinos in hunger and poverty. grrrr..
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@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
katrina, they who want to be the first shall be the last, and they who had been deprived shall have eternal reward.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
That is really sad indeed that these generals' wives are the one benefiting from it all. I think that there need to be more concrete action on this after the senate investigations. I think that there is a need to file to ombudsman about this but until after the office of the ombudsman is reorganized since it is hard to trust in it anymore because of the tainted office. I really do not want to see them enjoying their lives in the comforts that do not belong to them.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
Well, these corrupt people had done well and good hiding the money they stole. I do hope that when they begin contemplating on their misdeeds, they get to see the blood of whom whose lives were terminated because of their selfishness.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
30 Mar 11
That is a very sad revelation. Just one more reason why this country is not moving positively. They only think of themselves and their own families. And they forgot about the money they spent for themselves are not of the people and not for them. 
1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
Hello Eileen
,
I know she's a mom and can be emotional at her stage but it's their Fault they did this and now the sins has gotten into them
. I don't know what's with the questioning of the senate and JInggoy's aggressive interrogation here but i have watch the hearings of the senate even from the Fertilizer scam or Joc-Joke thing,but there hasn't any one have been into Jail. maybe i should just listen to the decision of the supreme court instead.tired of these hearings.
,
I know she's a mom and can be emotional at her stage but it's their Fault they did this and now the sins has gotten into them. I don't know what's with the questioning of the senate and JInggoy's aggressive interrogation here but i have watch the hearings of the senate even from the Fertilizer scam or Joc-Joke thing,but there hasn't any one have been into Jail. maybe i should just listen to the decision of the supreme court instead.tired of these hearings.1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
Patience, dear Knight, is a virtue. And knights know that, right? But okay, consider it my primetime telenovela. At least the female Ligot show facial expression than Captain Barbel.
@watergirl (567)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
I was watching the senate hearing yesterday and I couldn't help but be cynical about it. Erlinda Ligot was acting as if she was an innocent child bombarded by questions and evidence! When asked about a $600,000++ bonds account, she denied having knowledge of it. But when Cayetano asked if she was willing to turn over the account to the government since it wasn't hers to begin with, she asked to see the account details first before conceding! Could she have plainly forgotten about this approximately PHP 30 M account or is this amount forgettable and insignificant compared to other money that they are hiding and spending elsewhere?
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
True, children would cling on to their lollipops even if you tell them that too much sweets are bad for their health. So how do we get that candy?
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
30 Mar 11
Hi eileen,
Maybe so, the wives often get the lion's share of their husbands earnings, legit or not. They should "minimize their greed" as one senator put it bluntly.
In defense, she say she may be a victim of media hype, trial by publicity and all that: "innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt." One reason for those who can afford it, getting justice on a platter served with a golden spoon. It is oftentimes the poor that gets banged every which way but loose. That's blind justice.
I say, where there's smoke, there's fire. Even if one is blind, the smell is always recognizable.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
Have you noticed that sinigang smells like toot. That is why the senate has to extract every little detail they could get, to show the guilt. In time, justice will be served.
@chuyins123 (2112)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
POWER that leads to PRIDE and GREED...
It's disappointing to note that those who we call when we want to enforce the law, the power of the state, are the ones abusing their power. And yes, these better halves of those gentlemen were living a life of pleasure and enjoyment across the globe (if I may say) while a lot of Juan dela Cruz are suffering. These women, disproved such a saying 'behind every man's success' because what they did 'behind every man's failure' label... I hope they wont get away with these.
I also hope that the case would prosper and be able to apply justice at its best. God bless the Philippines and its honest leaders who are worthy to be called true servants of men and the country.
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
You are right chuyins, to every failure of a man, there is also a woman behind. Yaiiks, that only proves that better half could also be a bitter half.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
oh I don't really care who squandered the funds, be it the generals or the women, what is disgusting is to think that what we contribute to the B.I.R. ( our equivalent of the IRS) is being used for other people's vacations, my thoughts are always with our brave and valiant foot soldiers who always have to make do and improvise in order to survive in the jungles. It's high time that we spend those money to end various conflicts in the countryside, so all of us would attain peace and prosperity no matter what our ideology is, and go back negotiating to fix our differences as one nation.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
The BIR is one way to retrieve the funds. And yes, this whole hoopla is for the foot soldiers. They are the ones protecting us.
@macayadann (1235)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
The man didn't have the courage to defend himself. The chivalrous act he committed for himself protected him from shame. He stood in front of those he cared so much so as to speechlessly defend them from what they have done. Well,they have been judged by the way they are now carrying in their conscience the load of guilt, the wound that will never heal and the painful memory of killing oneself for the sake of loved ones.
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@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
Chivalry pertains to protecting the weak and the damsels in distress. Where is the honor is hiding shame? So, let the ones left behind feel the guilt all the rest of their deceptive lives.
@Nosreme_1229 (9)
•
30 Mar 11
I watched the hearing of the Ligot couple yesterday. I am not fully satisfied on the results of the hearing because Mrs. ligot was not confirming anything that accused on her. Though I think, the most critical part of the hearing is when she confirmed that Erlinda Ligot ang Erlinda Yambao is the same person.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
Yes, that means she knew fully well that she was committing an illegal act when she made the sale to herself. Caught!
Caught!