Delfin Lee's arrest legal - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang echoed authorities' statement that the arrest of businessman Delfin Lee was legal.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte noted that the decision of the Court of Appeals clearing him in his syndicated estafa case is still not final and executory since the Department of Justice appealed it.

"The mode of appeal, as lawyers like to call it, was under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. Thereby, hindi po naging final and executory dahil nagsampa tayo ng apela sa naging desisyon ng Court of Appeals," Valte said at a televised press briefing on Friday.

"And to prove positive the fact that it did not become final and executory are two things: one, the warrant of arrest was not recalled, which is normally the case when the quashing is made final, pero hindi pa ito na-recall; at pangalawa, yung hold departure order against Delfin Lee was not lifted," Valte added.

Lee, the president of Globe Asiatique, is facing syndicated estafa charges for allegedly defrauding the government of some P6.6 billion in bogus housing loans using fake borrowers.

He went into hiding in May 2012 after the San Fernando Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pampanga ordered his arrest.

The businessman carried a bounty of P2 million and was among the country's "Big 5" fugitives.

Joint operatives of Task Force Tugis and the Manila Police District arrested Lee in front of the Hyatt Hotel and Casino on Thursday evening.

Earlier today, Lee was brought to the San Fernando RTC, which denied his motion to post for bail.

An executive judge of the court ordered Lee's transfer to a detention facility at the regional office of National Bureau of Investigation in Pampanga.

The Palace welcomes Lee's arrest as a positive development in the government’s commitment to track down the country's top fugitives.

"I recall, at one event, the President did mention na 'kahit kayo magtago, mahahanap at mahahanap kayo.' So this is a good step, at least for government because, finally, cases can move," Valte said.