Delfin Lee asks SC to stop his jail transfer

DETAINED Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee sought the Supreme Court’s help Monday to stop his transfer from Pampanga Provincial Jail to the San Fernando City Jail.

Pampanga Regional Trial Court Luz Simbulan ordered his transfer following allegation that Lee is receiving special treatment from his jailers.

But Lee, in his plea before the Office of the Court Administrator, said such insinuation was based on hearsay.

“It will be truly unfair for herein accused to be transferred to the BJMP Telabastagan and be incarcerated together with one hundred more or less, common and hardened criminals, especially so that herein accused is not even a convicted felon,” Lee, through counsel Salvador Viste Jr. said.

Lee said Simbulan’s information was based on anonymous letters.

“These information whatever they may be, from anonymous senders are not verifiable, not reliable,” Lee said.

“In short, there is no direct allegation or claim of special treatment in favor of herein accused at the Pampanga Provincial Jail. All that have been said in the subject letter are those enumerated surmises, conjectures and hearsay,” the motion stated.

He added that if he would be transferred, his constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty would be violated because his transfer has no legal and factual bases.

Lee also urged Pampanga RTC Branch 42 Judge Amifaith Reyes to compel Judge Simbulan to testify and produce the evidence to support the allegation of special treatment.

The Pampanga RTC Branch 42 is hearing the syndicated estafa case of Lee.

He also asked Judge Reyes to execute a written personal undertaking to secure his safety in case his transfer pushes through and to take full responsibility for any consequence of such action.