MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 19, 2014) – Philippine Police Director General Alan Purisima has said that arrested real estate developer Delfin Lee is still in the lost of wanted persons, denying reports that the controversial businessman had been removed from that roster.
But Purisima said there was a plan to remove Lee – following procedures set forth in the PNPI-3 Circular Nr 98-01 dated July 23, 1998 – from the wanted list prior to his arrest on March 6, however, the process had not been completed.
Lee, president of Globe Asiatique, was arrested by Senior Superintendent Conrado Capa, of the PNP Task Force Tugis.
“Let me emphasize that the process of delisting the name of Delfin Lee from the PNP List of Wanted Persons was simply acknowledged, but not completed, thus, the suspect remained in the roster of Wanted Persons until the time of his arrest in Manila last March 6, 2014,” he said.
Purisima also said it is only the police which have authority to remove persons from the wanted list because “PNPI-3 Circular No. 98-01 as well as the executive practice of the police, places the authority to de-list or remove a person from the Most Wanted List principally on the PNP’s Reward and Valuation Committee.”
He also said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s role is limited in approving the names to be placed on said wanted list, and the corresponding reward, as previously recommended by the Reward and Valuation Committee.
“As such, the matter did not reach the office of the SILG (Secretary Mar Roxas). The request remained at the PNP level for further processing. The DILG never issued any order delisting Delfin Lee. I have never discussed Delfin Lee’s case with Secretary Mar Roxas in any of our meetings. The PNP never requested for his approval in the process of de-listing Mr. Lee,” Purisima said.
He said the inclusion of Lee in the wanted list remained in effect until the time of his arrest. (Mindanao Examiner)
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