Binay lauds P2-M reward for Lee’s arrest

STO. TOMAS — Vice President Jejomar Binay lauded the decision of President Benigno Aquino III to raise a P2-million reward for information leading to the arrest of Delfin Lee, owner of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp.

This came as the President is "displeased with the lack of progress in arresting high-profile fugitives."

Binay had earlier expressed disappointment over law enforcement agencies’ failure to apprehend Lee and his co-accused in the syndicated estafa case filed by the government before a Pampanga court.

Last May 22, Judge Amifaith Fider-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 in the City of San Fernando, issued warrants of arrest with no recommendation for bail against Lee and other Globe Asiatique officials.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed syndicated estafa charges against Lee after an investigation ordered by Binay revealed that Globe Asiatique used "ghost borrowers" and fake documents to obtain over P6.5 billion in loans from the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig).

In October 2010, Binay directed Pag-Ibig to investigate the fraudulent loans obtained by Globe Asiatique during the previous administration. The agency then filed a complaint against Lee and several others before the DOJ.

Earlier, Binay questioned the issuance by a Pasig Regional Trial Court of an injunction order covering the syndicated estafa case and another case for “double sale” filed by Pag-Ibig and DOJ against Lee. The Appellate Court, however, struck down the decision last month.

Binay was in Pampanga last weekend distributing relief goods to residents of Sto. Tomas, San Simon, Apalit and San Luis, all part of the province’s fourth district.

The Vice President bared that he will be leading a housing program for the Aetas of Floridablanca town this September amounting to P40 million.