Arrest warrants issued vs. accused in Globe Asiatique loan scam 

A Pampanga judge has ordered the arrest of the owner and officials of Globe Asiatique over a questionable P6.5-billion loan that its supposed "ghost" buyers obtained from the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG).   Vice President Jejomar Binay revealed Wednesday this development in the Globe Asiatique case in his capacity as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Pag-IBIG Board of Trustees.   San Fernando, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 42 Judge Amifaith Fider-Reyes issued the warrants and recommended no bail, the Vice President said.   “Globe Asiatique defrauded the ordinary workers who are contributors of Pag-IBIG Fund. The company defrauded hardworking citizens of Pampanga by selling property they already sold legitimately to other buyers, a practice known as double selling,” Binay said.   “The issuance of the warrants of arrest against Delfin Lee and his co-accused just shows that the law is on the side of the ordinary workers duped by Globe Asiatique,” he added.   Binay said the judge found probable cause for the syndicated estafa (swindling) charges against GA owner Delfin Lee, Lee's son Dexter, Globe Asiatique officers Christina Sagun and Cristina Salagan, and Pag-IBIG Fund employee Alex Alvarez.   “We will remain vigilant in monitoring the case until Delfin Lee and his co-accused are behind bars,” Binay said.   Binay said he was told that Reyes initially deferred the issuance of the warrants and directed the prosecution team to present additional evidence. However, upon the prosecution’s inquiry, it was learned the court staff did not disclose to the judge that there were six boxes of evidence in court.   “After reviewing the pertinent evidence, Judge Reyes issued the warrants of arrest. We were informed that the court staff are now required by the judge to show cause why they should not be penalized for the non-disclosure,” the Vice President said.   The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier recommended the filing of syndicated estafa charges against Lee and his co-accused.   An investigation ordered by Binay revealed that GA used "ghost borrowers" and fake documents to obtain over P6.5 billion in loans from Pag-IBIG.   In October 2010, Binay directed Pag-IBIG to file charges of syndicated estafa against Lee and other GA officials, along with an officer of the agency, before the DOJ.   A Pasig Regional Trial Court judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order covering the syndicated estafa case and another case for “double sale” filed against GA, but the Court of Appeals in a decision last month allowed DOJ to continue filing the syndicated estafa charges. — ELR, GMA News