Let’s be honest.
If the same Supreme Court ruling used in the Ligot lifestyle-check case were applied across the ENTIRE government — senators, congressmen, presidents, mayors, governors, generals, appointees… and yes, even judges — the Philippines would look VERY different by tomorrow morning.
Because the ruling is crystal clear:
If your wealth exceeds your lawful income, it is presumed illegally acquired and may be forfeited — even if you hide it under your spouse, kids, siblings, in-laws, or “trusted relatives.”
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🧾 What the Supreme Court Just Ruled
This decision, penned by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, upheld the forfeiture of ₱155 MILLION in assets linked to retired AFP Comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto C. Ligot.
The Court confirmed that:
• The properties were either in Ligot’s name or in the names of his wife, children, sister, and brother-in-law.
• Investigators found these relatives had no legitimate income to justify the properties and large bank accounts under their names.
What triggered the case?
The Ombudsman’s lifestyle investigation found massive gaps between:
• Ligot’s declared assets in SALNs (1982–2003), and
• His real properties, bank deposits, investments, and assets traced to him or to relatives acting as fronts.
What the courts ordered forfeited:
🏠 ₱102 million in real properties
🏦 ₱53 million in bank and investment funds
➡️ ₱155 million total illegally acquired wealth
The Supreme Court affirmed it all — including findings that:
• His wife and children had no independent income, yet owned significant properties and accounts.
• Condo amortizations under relatives’ names were paid by Ligot or his wife.
• One condo “owned” by his brother-in-law was actually bought by Ligot’s wife — who also had no lawful income.
THIS is the standard the Supreme Court has now reaffirmed.
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🔥 Now imagine applying THAT to EVERY politician.
💥 Half of the political class would be bankrupt.
💥 The other half would be fighting for bail.
💥 Political dynasties would be forced to explain 20–50 years of explosive wealth.
💥 Contractors who became overnight billionaires would face scrutiny.
💥 Families with no income but multiple condos, SUVs, and trust funds would have a hard time explaining themselves.
And here’s the part nobody wants to touch:
⚖️ Judges and magistrates should ALSO undergo lifestyle checks.
Justice is not justice if only politicians are scrutinized, while those who decide their cases are shielded from the same transparency standards.
No exceptions.
No sacred cows.
No untouchables.
#SALN #IllGottenWealth #OmbudsmanPH #SupremeCourtph #politicsph
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