Delfin asks SC: Reconsider plea for oral argument

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee is insisting on his plea for 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.

In a motion filed through lawyer Ronnie Garay earlier this week, Lee asked the high court to reconsider its ruling last month denying his motion to hold oral arguments.

“In the interest of justice and fairness, we believe we deserve the chance to be heard, and more important, the public deserves to know the truth about Pag-IBIG’s (Home Development and Mutual Fund) trumped-up accusations against me, my family, and our company,” he appealed.

Lee explained that only through oral arguments before the SC could the “public be truly enlightened,” more so now in light of the Senate committee on housing’s recent decision to indefinitely postpone its hearings inquiring into the Pag-IBIG controversy.

In particular, Lee wanted to resolve via oral arguments three issues on his cases: the finality of the decision of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 58 finding Pag-IBIG liable for breach of contracts, the deprivation of his right to liberty due to the temporary restraining orders issued by the SC on his cases considering that the warrant of arrest against him was already lifted by a Pampanga RTC, and the validity of court proceedings when the Court of Appeals has voided the syndicated estafa charges against him.