Was Delfin Lee delisted from 'Most Wanted' list?
Nancy seeks Senate probe into process, conflicting statements

Senator Nancy Binay is seeking an investigation into the alleged delisting of Delfin Lee, who is facing syndicated estafa charges for a P6.6 billion housing controversy, from the "Most Wanted Persons List".

Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 567 which directs the appropriate Senate committees to launch an inquiry into the alleged removal of Lee's name from the said list as well as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group's (CIDG) issuance of a certification of the Globe Asiatique president's removal from the list of the Warrant of Arrest database.

"While the arrest of Delfin Lee after two years of evading the authorities was a welcome respite to the victims of the P6.6 billion housing controversy, what is worrisome is that the camp of the accused is now questioning the validity of the arrest," Binay said.

"Nakakabahala po ang liham mula kay PNP Chief Alan Purisima na nagsasabing si Delfin Lee ay aalisin na sa listahan ng mga taong pinaghahanap ng mga alagad ng batas, pati na rin po ang sertipikasyon na nagpapatunay na ang arrest warrant kay Delfin Lee ay tinanggal na sa Warrant of Arrest database noong nakalipas na taon," she added.

Despite the clarification issued by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas that the arrest warrant against Lee was valid as well as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's statement that the CIDG certification was an "honest mistake", the lady senator believes that an investigation into the claims of the camp of the accused should be conducted.

"The issue here is the presence of this letter from PNP Chief Alan Purisima and the certification from the CIDG which are being used by the camp of Delfin Lee to question his arrest. We need to review the existing policies and laws governing the inclusion and removal of a person's name from the warrant of arrest database and the most wanted persons list in order to prevent lapses in the procedure which can be used to circumvent the law and legal processes," urged Binay.

"Mahalaga po ang imbestigasyon na ito dahil nakasalalay dito ang pangarap po ng bawat Pilipino na makapagpundar ng bahay para sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, at ang hustisyang inaasam ng mga biktima ni Delfin Lee. Sana po ay magtulungan tayo upang masiguro na ang pangarap na ito ay hindi mauwi sa wala dahil lamang sa simpleng teknikalidad," she said.

Lee was arrested by police last March 6 at the Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila--after two years of eluding arrest in connection with a criminal case for syndicated estafa. He is detained at the Pampanga provincial jail.