Delfin Lee wants copies of ‘hidden’ documents in syndicated estafa case

MANILA, Philippines - Detained Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee has sought relief from the court in his bid to get the documents used as basis for his indictment on syndicated estafa charges for allegedly anomalous housing projects in Pampanga worth P6.6 billion.

Rony Garay and Willie Rivera, lawyers for Lee, alleged that government prosecutors are hiding the documents.

“These documents are needed to prevent suppression or alteration of evidence,” they said.

Lee’s camp also asked the San Fernando, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 42, which is hearing the syndicated estafa case, to compel the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) to furnish the accused with the documents.

The lawyers said the documents would show that “neither Lee nor Globe Asiatique defrauded Pag-IBIG of P6.6 billion.”

They said the documents would also show that Lee did not use fictitious buyers for the housing loan accounts in Xevera Bacolor and Mabalacat project.

Lee has reiterated that the information for syndicated estafa has been quashed by the Court of Appeals (CA).  

The businessman had earlier sought relief from the Supreme Court.

In his petition, Lee asked the high court to dismiss the petition of the Department of Justice questioning an earlier CA decision that effectively dismissed the case against him and nullified the arrest warrant issued by the court in San Fernando.

He likewise sought the lifting of the temporary restraining order issued by the high tribunal last March that spoiled his bid to be released from the Pampanga provincial jail.