Noy frowns at speculations on Lee’s arrest

MANILA, Philippines - What’s all the fuss about?

President Aquino yesterday frowned on persistent speculations about a high ranking government official who allegedly attempted to interfere in the arrest of fugitive Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee now under government custody.

“Where is Mr. Lee now? Arrested... well who’s blocking what? He’s behind bars. What else needs to be proved?” Aquino asked in Filipino.

The public should even be thankful to the Philippine National Police for having arrested Lee, who is facing charges of syndicated estafa for duping homeowners who bought units in his housing projects with alleged dubious funding sources.

Members of the PNP Task Force Tugis, led by Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, arrested Lee in front of the Hyatt Hotel in Manila last March 6. Lee spent two years in hiding.

The government had offered a P2-million reward for the arrest of the real estate magnate.

Syndicated estafa charges were filed against Lee and several Globe Asiatique officials in December 2010 after the suspects used fake documents and ghost borrowers who supposedly bought homes in the Xevera housing project in Mabalacat, Pampanga, to secure some P6.6 billion in loans from the Pag-IBIG Fund.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also set to file more than 50 additional syndicated estafa charges against Lee.

The President has sought the explanation of  PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima about the reported “delisting” of Lee from the government’s most wanted list, but he hasn’t had time to read the one-inch thick formal explanation.

Aquino said the PNP explained that the delisting is under process.

“Maybe we should just be thankful,” Aquino said, veering away from the issue regarding the phone call of his close friend and ally Mindoro Oriental Gov. Alfonso Umali to Purisima after Lee was arrested.

Umali reportedly asked Purisima about Lee’s status as a fugitive.

“The PNP answered that this was under process... now my question is what really is meant by delisting? If one is arrested, does his name have to be checked among the most wanted?”