The Sandiganbayan has lifted the preliminary attachment orders on the five bank accounts of Edgardo T. Yambao, brother-in-law of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller Lt. General Jacinto C. Ligot.
In a resolution dated July 12, the anti-graft court said that Yambao’s bank accounts with the United Overseas Bank of the Philippines (UOBP) and the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank) were not included in the seizure order dated May 26 against Ligot's assets amounting to P53.8 million.
Yambao's account with UOBP amounted to P346,190.43, while his four accounts with Metrobank amounted to P10,000, P256,159.26, P31,403.35, and P1,100,000.
Associate Justice Michael Frederick L. Musngi wrote the three-page resolution with the concurrence of second division Chairperson Oscar C. Herrera Jr. and Associate Justice Arthur O. Malabaguio.
Yambao was included in the forfeiture case filed against Ligot and members of his family. The Sandiganbayan had issued the forfeiture on the over P120 million worth of property for being unlawfully acquired.
In 2021, the anti-graft court dismissed the petition for forfeiture against Yambao. He said that since the dismissal was already final, he asked the court to lift the attachment order.
The Sandiganbayan granted his plea as far as the attachment on a condominium unit in Quezon City with Certificate Title No. N-22333, a property in Mandaluyong City with Transfer Certificate of Title No. 188047, and investments and deposits in the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AMWSLAI) under the name of Yambao with a capital contribution of P200,513.52 and savings deposit dividend of P100.
“As for the standing writ of attachment issued against him (Yambao), this meant that there was no longer any rationale to hold his properties in custodia legis, given that the Republic has no cause to satisfy a judgment under Republic Act No. 1379 against him and the grounds upon which this Court issued said writ against Yambao can no longer be sustained,” the court’s resolution stated.