PNP: Process of delisting Lee from wanted list not yet completed
Delfin Lee. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Amid the debate over the delisting of Delfin Lee from the most wanted persons, the Philippine National Police maintained Tuesday that the real estate magnate remained on the roster until his arrest last Thursday.
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, said that the process of delisting Lee’s name “was simply acknowledged but not completed.”
On Monday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima sought an explanation from the PNP on the alleged delisting of Lee from the Five Most Wanted Persons in the country or the “Big Five.”
De Lima said the delisting might have been an “honest mistake” on the part of the police.
Sindac explained that on January 8, the PNP had informed Lee’s counsel, Emmanuel Pichay through a letter, saying “the PNP is now in the process of delisting Mr. Delfin Lee from the list of wanted persons following procedures set forth in the PNPI-3 Circular Nr 98-01 dated July 23, 1998.”
Following his arrest, the camp of Lee questioned the validity of the arrest warrant, saying the Court of Appeals previously reversed the ruling of the Pampanga Regional Trial Court issuing an arrest order for Lee and four others.
Lee and other accused are facing syndicated estafa charges for being allegedly involved in the P6.6-billion fraudulent loans taken out by his company Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. from Home Development Mutual fund (Pag-Ibig Fund), the national shelter and saving agency.
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