Delfin Lee accuses Pampanga judge of extortion

Real estate developer Delfin Lee. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

While fighting the plan to move him to a smaller jail, the real estate developer allegedly behind the multibillion-peso Globe Asiatique realty scam has asked the Supreme Court for the prompt investigation of a Pampanga judge for alleged extortion.

Now detained at the Pampanga Provincial Jail, Delfin Lee has asked the Office of the Court Administrator to order the prosecution of Pampanga Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Divina Luz Aquino-Simbulan for allegedly demanding a Nissan Patrol in exchange for approving a media interview with him.

In an eight-page complaint filed Thursday, Lee accused Simbulan of exceeding her authority in directly coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in order to transfer him from the provincial jail to a BJMP facility in Barangay Telabastagan in San Fernando City.

He said Simbulan had recommended his transfer “without any valid ground,” and without waiting for the order of Pampanga RTC Branch 42 Judge Maria Amifaith Fider-Reyes, who is handling the trial against him.

It was in fact Reyes who had requested Simbulan to transfer Lee amid reports that he was getting special treatment at the provincial jail.

“I respectfully request that Judge Simbulan be criminally prosecuted for usurpation of authority because she represented herself to the officials of the BJMP that she has jurisdiction and power to transfer me from Pampanga Provincial Jail to BJMP Telabastagan,” read Lee’s complaint.

He also asked that Simbulan be prosecuted by the Ombudsman for violating the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act “for directly soliciting a brand new Nissan Patrol from me in exchange for her favorable opinion for me to be interviewed by the media and for causing undue injury to me.”

Lee is currently on trial for the alleged use of fake names and the double sale of housing units to defraud Pag-Ibig Fund of nearly P7 billion in loans between 2008 and 2011.

The scheme allegedly includes housing units in Xevera subdivisions in Bacolor town and Mabalacat City in Pampanga.

To allegedly coerce him into giving in to her demand, Lee said Simbulan also shut down a bakery at the provincial jail, which has been providing training for inmates through his donations.

The detained realty developer also asked the high court to undertake administrative action against the judge, but these proceedings are confidential.