De Lima: Delfin Lee arrest warrant still in effect

Delfin Lee. Photos by Erwin Aguilon

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Friday said the warrant for the arrest of real estate magnate Delfin Lee was still in effect.

Lee, president of Globe Asiatique, was arrested Thursday evening in Manila. He is the principal accused in a syndicated estafa case and one of the most wanted men in the country.

“We, of course, welcome such development, especially so that our position is that the arrest warrant vs. Delfin Lee still subsists,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.

Last year, the Court of Appeals ordered the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to stop the manhunt for Lee due to absence of probable cause or basis to order Lee’s arrest.

The Court of Appeals said the Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 42 merely relied on the findings of the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel, which recommended the prosecution of Lee and four others for syndicated estafa.

The DOJ took the case to the Supreme Court and sought a reversal of the Court of Appeals’ ruling.

With the petition at the high court, De Lima said, “The arrest warrant vs. Delfin Lee still subsists in light of our pending petition before the Supreme Court questioning the CA’s decision quashing said warrant.”

The appeals court, in its most recent ruling, did not rule on the motion for clarification filed by Lee asking that they give an express declaration of the dismissal of Lee’s criminal case.

“It behoves this court to observe judicial courtesy and refrain from acting on the motion for clarificatory judgment as the proposition therein is the very issue being assailed by respondents People of the Philippines and HDMF before the highest tribunal,” the appeals court said.

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