Pag-IBIG asks DOJ to bar Globe Asiatique head from leaving PHL

The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) is asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to deny the request of property developer Globe Asiatique (GA) president Delfin Lee to leave the country to undergo medical treatment in the United States. Pag-IBIG chief executive officer Darlene Berberabe, in a report to Vice President and Pag-IBIG board of trustees chair Jejomar Binay, said Pag-IBIG in its opposition filed last week asked the DOJ to deny Lee’s request “for utter lack of merit." In his motion, Lee said he needs to go to US on May 4 to undergo medical treatment. He said he would return on May 21. But Pag-IBIG, through its counsel Atty. Jose Roberto Po, said the Globe Asiatique head failed to provide "any exceptional reasons necessitating the issuance of an Authority to Travel," specifically proof of a medical condition. “The instant motion is bereft of any medical certificate or medical report issued by a duly licensed physician that his alleged ‘medical treatment’ in the United States is necessary and/or that the said medical treatment cannot be undertaken by a physician in the country," it said. Section 7 of the DOJ Circular No. 41 allows a person under a hold departure order to travel outside the country “for exceptional reasons." Lee and 16 others are facing charges of syndicated estafa for allegedly taking out at least P6.6 billion in Pag-IBIG Funds for questionable housing development projects in Pampanga. There are two other syndicated estafa complaints lodged against Lee. Both complainants claimed they were duped into buying the properties from Globe Asiatique, saying the properties they bought were in fact already sold to other Pag-IBIG borrowers. Syndicated estafa is a non-bailable offense. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News