Noli de Castro to face Senate probe on housing scam - JV

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate reopens today its investigation on the nearly P7-billion housing scam allegedly committed by Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee and former Vice Pres. Noli De Castro is among the personalities expected to attend.

Sen. JV Ejercito, chairman of the committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement, said De Castro has expressed his plan to attend the congressional hearing set at 10 a.m.

De Castro was the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDCC) during the Arroyo administration and an ex-officio chairman of the National Housing Authority, National Home Mortgage and Finance Corporation and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

"Former Vice President Noli de Castro, the former chair of HUDCC in the previous administration, has signified his intention to come tomorrow... to air his side," Ejercito said in a phone-patch interview on ANC on Monday afternoon.

On the other hand, Lee is not expected to attend today's Senate hearing since he remains under detention in Pampanga following his arrest last month after two years of hiding.

Lee, the founder and president of Globe Asiatique, is facing charges for allegedly defrauding the Pag-IBIG Fund of P6.6 billion by using fake borrowers and documents. He had a P2-million bounty on his head.

Ejercito explained that they sent an invitation to the Department of Justice, only to be told that Lee is under the custody of the Pampanga Regional Trial Court.

The senator said Lee will be invited to attend the next hearing.

"Tomorrow (today)... we will be establishing the jurisdiction first and most likely, we will be issuing the invitations or subpoenas to the persons needed tulad ni Mr. Delfin Lee," Ejercito told ANC yesterday.

"Palagay ko sa susunod na pagdinig, sila po ay maiisyuhan na ng subpoena nang sa ganoon, sila ay makadalo," he added.

Ejercito stressed the importance of the reopening of the Senate probe on the housing scam, saying it is "a matter of national interest."

"Kung ang PDAF ay P10 billion, ito ay P7 billion. Hindi po nagkakalayo kaya kailangan talagang magkaroon ng pagdinig dito," he said.

Aside from De Castro, also expected to attend today's hearing are other government housing officials such as Pag-IBIG Fund President and CEO Darlene Marie Berberabe.

Ejercito said victims of the housing scam are also invited.