Delfin Lee to SC: Please release me

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee yesterday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to hear in oral arguments his petition seeking his release from detention and to stop his indictment on syndicated estafa charges for the allegedly anomalous housing projects in Pampanga worth P6.6 billion.

Lee’s lawyer Rony Garay also sought the consolidation of all cases filed against him.

But Lee said the high court should also consider for consolidation the cases against Christina Sagun filed by the Home Development and Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and the Department of Justice.

He reiterated that the finding of probable cause for syndicated estafa against him has been nullified by the different divisions of the Court of Appeals in various petitions filed by him and his co-accused.

Lee added that all the cases for consolidation were based on the same contracts entered into between Pag-IBIG Fund and Globe Asiatique, the same criminal investigation for estafa, and the judicial determination of probable cause undertaken by the Regional Trial Court of San Fernando, Pampanga.

In his earlier petition, the detained businessman asked the high court to dismiss the petition of the DOJ questioning an earlier CA decision that effectively dismissed the case against him and nullified the arrest warrant issued by the lower court.

Lee also sought the lifting of the temporary restraining order issued by the high tribunal last month that spoiled his bid to be released from the Pampanga provincial jail while standing trial. 

– With Jose Rodel Clapano