IN PHOTOS: Delfin Lee faces Pampanga court

Mark Cristino

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During his first arraignment since he was arrested, the owner of Globe Asiatique refuses to enter a plea. The court enters a not guilty plea on his behalf.

PAMPANGA, Philippines – And he showed up in the end. 

Globe Asiatique property developer Delfin Lee was brought from the Pampanga Provincial Jail to the Pampanga Regional Trial Court for his arraignment Friday, March 14, contrary to an earlier statement from his camp that he wouldn’t show up for the hearing of his syndicated estafa case. 

During his first arraignment since he was arrested, Lee refused to enter a plea. His lawyer, Willie Rivera, said his client did not want to waive his right to insist that there is no probable cause for the case, an Inquirer report said.

The court entered a not guilty plea on Lee’s behalf. 

Lee and 4 others are facing syndicated estafa charges filed by the Department of Justice over the alleged use of ghost borrowers to obtain P6.6 billion loans from Pag-IBIG Fund in 2009. His victims were most from Pampanga. (READ: GA homeowners: Lee must suffer like we do)

A fugitive for about two years, Lee was arrested on Thursday evening, March 6. outside Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila. His arrest has sparked controversy after housing czar and Vice President Jejomar Binay hinted that influential people tried to intervene in Lee’s case. Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II has ordered an investigation into who in the Philippine National Police removed Lee from the most wanted list.  

Lee maintains his detention is illegal.

All photos by Mark Cristino Rappler.com

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