MANILA, Philippines – A victim of early politicking. That was how Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso “Boy” Umali described himself after being accused of blocking the arrest of businessman and fugitive Delfin Lee.

“Mahirap magsalita pero mga kandidato sila, tatakbo sila eh. Malapit na ulit ang eleksyon. Palagay ko maagang pulitikihan masyado ito eh,” Umali told Inquirer Radio 990AM on Monday.

(It’s difficult to talk but they are candidates, they are going to run for office. Election is near. I think this is a case of early politicking.)

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday told media that someone influential tried to stop authorities from arresting the property developer. However, he refused to give a name, telling reporters to instead check if it is true that the person also engaged in a shouting match just to have Lee released.

On Sunday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma revealed that President Benigno Aquino III asked Umali to explain his supposed interference in the case. But Umali said he contacted Philippine National Police director general Alan Purisima in behalf of a friend.

The governor said Lee’s lawyer, Gilbert Repizo, is a friend who also hails from Mindoro. He admitted calling Purisima to ask if Lee’s arrest was valid upon the request of the lawyer who told him they already have a quashal order from the Court of Appeals.

“Tumawag ako para alamin lang…Sabi sa akin (ni PNP chief) kailangan ng release order. So sinabi ko dun sa abogado. So iyon lang. Ganun lang ang nangyari. Kaya nagtataka ako nagsigawan pa raw,” he said.

(I called just to know…The PNP chief told me a release order is needed. That’s it. That’s what happened. I am wondering why it was reported that we were shouting.)

“Nobody in his right mind would shout at the Chief PNP,” Umali added, after pointing out that he was also friends with Purisima.

He also said he obviously did not block the arrest since Lee was already arrested by Task Force Usig.

Umali said he wouldn’t do that since he did not want to be implicated in such a “sensational case.” He also did not know Lee and had never met him.

The governor revealed that Repizo has been mentioning Lee’s case to him a month before, telling him that his client was thinking of surfacing as a state witness.

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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