The strange case of Delfin Lee

All this time I believed that Delfin Lee, president of Globe Asiatique, was one of the five most wanted men in the country together with former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, his brother and former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, former Dinagat Island cult leader and Congressman Ruben Ecleo, and retired Army General Jovito Palparan.

In fact a while back, I remember watching a documentary illustrating how the Delfin Lee scam was perpetrated. If I remember correctly, the convincing documentary was a project of Karen Davila.

So I was overjoyed to hear that Delfin Lee of Globe Asiatique had finally been arrested. It was just surprising that the arrest was done in Hyatt Hotel and Casino. I always imagined that Delfin Lee would have to be extradited after seeking refuge in some foreign country. I also thought that if he was here, he would be hiding like a hermit in some house in some remote or well guarded location. But never did I imagine that one of the Five Most Wanted Men in the country would be walking around in a five-star casino hotel waiting for a girlfriend.

But that was not the most shocking news. Now we hear that there is a legal dispute as to whether he was really a wanted man. We are told that a division of the Court of Appeals and a Pasig regional court had set this guy free and dismissed the charges against him last year. I suppose one reaction, after hearing this familiar refrain, would be to shrug our shoulders one more time and ask, So what’s new?

But the other response is to ask how can one of the Five Most Wanted Men in the country suddenly become a free man claiming that he is the aggrieved party? And now this question leads to other questions.

Can this happen with the other cases pending in the judicial system? Will we see Jocjoc Bolante and the other accused parties in the Fertilizer Fund scam become the aggrieved parties? And what about the cases against all those lawmakers allegedly involved in the PDAF scandals?

Let us also not forget the other pending cases. Last year, there was public outcry, especially from the business sector, against the issuance of a TRO that effectively prevented the Department of Justice from pursuing its anti-smuggling case against Phoenix Petroleum. I was reminded of this case when I saw a Phoenix Petroleum gasoline station opening along EDSA. What has happened to the anti-smuggling case?

And what about the Ma’m Arlene expose that is supposed to be the equivalent in the judiciary of a Janet Lim-Napoles conspiracy? The Chief Justice promised a swift and transparent investigation to be conducted by a special committee. What has happened to this investigation?

The primary complainant in the Delfin Lee case is the Pag-IBIG Fund. Fortunately, its chairman, Vice President Jejomar Binay, has taken a strong public stance on this case. In a recent press release, he said, “I gladly welcome the decision of the Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 42 to transfer Delfin to the Pampanga provincial jail.

Lee has swindled Pag-IBIG Fund of almost P7 billion worth of housing loans and robbed thousands of Filipino families of their dream of having their own home. He should not be given any special treatment.

Members of Pag-IBIG, especially those defrauded in the Global Asiatique scam, can rest assured that we will fight any and all efforts to release Lee. We will make sure that Lee and his cohorts will be punished for their crime, and the victims will be given the justice they deserve.”

Pag-IBIG Fund has also retained Atty. Sandy Coronel as its legal counsel to prosecute this case. She is a highly competent lawyer. But more than that, her track record is one of proven integrity and courageous advocacies. She learned her law by working in one of the most famous and courageous law firms in the country, then known as the Yorac, Arroyo, Azcuna & Chua law firm.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas has also quashed any rumor that the Philippine National Police had delisted Delfin Lee from its wanted list. Secretary Roxas has correctly said that this is a ridiculous statement because it was the PNP that arrested Lee. If Lee had been delisted obviously the PNP would not have arrested him.

This case is an opportunity for the nation to witness even political rivals unite in a common cause — to bring even the wealthy and the powerful to justice, and to institutionalize the rule of law in our nation.

More on the truck ban

Several business groups are considering joining the European Chamber of Commerce in sending a letter addressed to P-Noy regarding the daytime truck ban. The sentiment is obviously against the daytime truck ban.

It advances two proposals. The first is “that a steady, well managed flow of trucks with an effective appointment system will create less traffic disruption and will allow the use of the port facilities more effectively, and will keep the flow of imports and exports going.” The second proposal is for a summit meeting of all concerned parties, with Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras acting as Chair.

It is a well intentioned letter. However, it is obviously lacking in details. Also, while the proposal may lessen traffic disruptions, it will not achieve the objective of eliminating traffic congestion in Manila and the surrounding urban areas.

In previous columns, I have supported a daytime trucking ban and suggested that the concerned parties shift part of their logistics operations to the evening. This short term proposal is doable, will decongest traffic, and will immediately reap economic benefits.

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