Governor Umali to Aquino: I didn’t block Delfin Lee’s arrest

Delfin Lee. Photo from PNP PIO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Sunday said Liberal Party ally and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso “Boy” Umali already explained his actions to President Benigno Aquino III after news came out of his alleged interference in the arrest of Delfin Lee.

“Ayon kay Gobernador Boy Umali, tinawagan niya si PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima sa pakiusap ng abogado nito na si Atty. Gilbert Repizo na ka-probinsya at kakilala ni Gobernador Boy Umali,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing aired over the radio.

(According to Governor Boy Umali, he called Philippine National Police chief, Director General Alan Purisima, because of a request by Lee’s lawyer Gilbert Repizo  — a province-mate and acquaintance of Governor Boy Umali.)

Coloma said Umali, Liberal Party treasurer, explained what he had done when Aquino asked him about it through text.

“Nais daw linawin ni Atty. Repizo ang batayan ng pag-aresto kay Ginoong Lee dahil sa pagkaalam ng kanyang kampo may desisyon na ang Court of Appeals na pabor sa kanyang kliyente,” the Secretary said.

(Atty. Repizo was said to have wanted to know the basis of Mr. Lee’s arrest because they believe the Court of Appeals already has a decision favouring his client.)

However, Purisima insisted that the warrant of arrest was still valid. Coloma said Umali did not pursue the issue anymore.

However, he did not say if Aquino was satisfied with the answer.

The Palace hopes that the arrest of Lee would pave the way for the resolution of cases filed against him. Lee, owner of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp., is being accused of defrauding the Pag-Ibig Fund of P7 billion worth of housing loans through fictitious members and documents.

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