SC stops CA ruling to lift Delfin Lee’s warrant of arrest

Delfin Lee. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Globe Asiatique President Delfin Lee will stay in jail.

This, after the Supreme Court has stopped the implementation of the Court of Appeal’s ruling that lifted the warrant of arrest issued against him.

“The TRO (temporary restraining order) is effective immediately and continuing until further orders and is directed against the implementation of the Court of Appeals Nov. 7, 2013 decision which (a) annulled and set aside the orders dated May 22, 2012 and August 22, 2012 issued by Judge Amifaith Fider-Reyes and (b) quashed, recalled and lifted the warrant of arrest that the latter judge issued against petitioner Delfin Lee pursuant to such resolution,” the high court said in its ruling.

Judge Fider-Reyes of Pampanga City Regional Trial Court Branch 42 on May 22 and Aug. 22, 2012 issued the arrest warrant against Lee. Lee is facing P6.6 billion syndicated estafa case in connection the spurious housing transactions with the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-Ibig Fund).

A high court source said the ruling in effect reinstated the syndicated estafa case against him and he will remain in detention.

Also, the habeas corpus pending with the Court of Appeals will become moot and academic, the same source said.

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