CA hears Lee habeas corpus petition Wednesday

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 11 years ago

The Court of Appeals. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals hears Wednesday the habeas corpus petition filed by Globe Asiatique President Delfin Lee asking that he be released from detention.

Lee, who was arrested in Manila last week said his arrest was illegal because the Court of Appeals already ordered the Pampanga Court to lift the arrest warrant issued against him.

The appeals court, in its ruling issued Tuesday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), through the NBI Regional Director for Region III and police Chief Insp. Rafael Lero, one of Lee’s arresting officers, to present Lee before the appellate court on Wednesday, and to justify his arrest and continuing detention.

The order was signed by Associate Justice Manuel Barrios, the justice-in-charge of the case, and concurred in by Associate Justices Normandie Pizarro and Stephen Cruz.

A writ of habeas corpus is a remedy sought by individuals who claim they have been detained without legal cause. Should the appeals court grant Lee’s plea, he shall be ordered released from detention. If the appellate court favors the argument of the PNP and NBI, he will remain in the custody of the law and the trial against him shall proceed.

Lee, founder and president of Globe Asiatique, and four others were charged in connection with alleged anomalous loans granted by the Pag-Ibig Fund to “ghost” borrowers of Globe Asiatique for the firm’s Xevera housing project in Mabalacat, Pampanga amounting to P6.6 billion.