PNP: Lee in wanted list in time of arrest

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday insisted that the arrest warrant against businessman Delfin Lee was still in effect at the time of his apprehension in Ermita, Manila.

"The Philippine National Police maintains that the process of delisting the name of Delfin Lee from the PNP List of Wanted Persons was simply acknowledged but not completed," PNP Public Information Office chief Reuben Theodore Sindac said in a statement.

He also noted that the PNP had sent a letter to Lee's legal counsel, lawyer Emmanuel Pichay, on January 8 that the agency was already processing the delisting of his client.

"The Secretary of the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) has no role in the actual process of de-listing persons from the Most Wanted List and the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) Warrant of Arrest Information System," Sindac added.

"PNPI-3 Circular No. 98-01, as well as the executive practice of the PNP, places the authority to de-list or remove a person from the Most Wanted List principally on the PNP's Reward and Valuation Committee (RVC)," he added.

Sindac stressed that DILG Secretary Mar Roxas' "role is limited in approving the names to be placed on said List, and the corresponding reward, as previously recommended by the RVC."

"As such, the matter did not reach the office of the SILG. The request remained at the PNP level for further processing. The DILG never issued any order delisting Delfin Lee," Sindac said.

He said that PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima even did not discuss the case of Lee with Roxas during their meetings.