Group asks De Lima to probe PNP over move to delist Delfin Lee

PNP Director General Alan Purisima (left) relieves Senior Supt. Conrad Capa (right) as head of the task force that captured fugitive businessman Delfin Lee, and promotes him as deputy chief for operations of the Cebu regional police office. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–A group urged Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to investigate what prompted the Philippine National Police (PNP) to move for the delisting of detained property developer Delfin Lee as among the most wanted men in the country despite pending appeals from the government.

The Coalition of Filipino Consumers, in a statement Monday, said that the move to delist Lee and relieve the police officer responsible for his arrest is suspect.

They said the DOJ should also look into why Task Force Tugis head Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa was relieved from his post when he was merely doing his job.

The PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima, said Capa was not relieved but was in fact promoted. But Capa said it was not a promotion.

“Capa’s ‘promotion,’ an assignment in Cebu, also cast doubt on the integrity of Chief PNP Director General Alan Purisima. The hanging questions that are begging for answers are: Why did he want Delfin Lee delisted?  Was he protecting Lee,” the coalition group asked.

Lee was arrested in Manila earlier this month. He said there is no longer a pending warrant for his arrest after the PNP moved to delist his name as among the most wanted following a Court of Appeals ruling. The appeals court ordered the Pampanga Court where he is facing syndicated estafa to lift the warrant for his arrest.

But the Supreme Court later stopped the CA from implementing that order.

A separate lawyers’ group also said that the PNP as well as Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II has no authority to delist Lee.

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