'DOJ's indictment of Globe Asiatique boosts P-Noy's anti-graft campaign'

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomed yesterday the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to indict officials of Globe Asiatique (GA) and a lawyer of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) for syndicated estafa.

Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund, said the case against Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee and his cohorts is a big boost to the government campaign against corruption.

“I am very thankful to the Department of Justice for its decision to file, upon review, charges of syndicated estafa against Delfin Lee and other officers of Globe Asiatique Realty and Holdings Corp. and an officer of Pag-IBIG Fund,” said Binay, who is on a two-week study leave at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Binay said that immediately after his assumption as HUDCC chair in July last year he met with the management of HDMF and ordered them to investigate the persistent report of irregularities in the loans extend by Pag-IBIG to GA.

He said GA allegedly secured a staggering amount of over P6 billion in loans from Pag-IBIG.

“This is to assure the members that their contributions to the Fund (Pag-IBIG), which come from hard-earned savings, would always be protected, the integrity of the Fund maintained and that transparency will govern all transactions of the agency,” Binay said.

He said before filing the case, he reviewed the pieces of evidence and personally talked to the witnesses.

“I have always maintained that we have a strong case against Globe Asiatique and I thank Senior Deputy Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva for upgrading the case and Prosecutor General Claro Arellano for approving the recommendation,” Binay said.

Binay said the DOJ’s indictment of Lee and his cohorts is an important first step in giving justice to the hardworking Filipinos whose dreams of owning their own home were dashed by greed and deceit.

“Members of Pag-IBIG Fund could now rest assured that the new leadership is determined to protect their interest and the integrity of the Fund. It is also my hope that the Ombudsman would soon issue its recommendation on the Globe Asiatique case,” Binay said.

The HDMF had submitted to the anti-graft body all documents related to the GA last year.

The DOJ recommended the other day the filing of charges of syndicated estafa against Lee, his son Dexter Lee, executive vice president; Christina Salagan, head of accounting/finance department; Christina Sagun, head of documentation department; and lawyer Alex Alvarez of the Pag-IBIG legal department and manager of the foreclosure department.