Delfin Lee in better times

FEELING VINDICATED in the wake of the Supreme Court en banc decision to downgrade the syndicated estafa charges against him to simple estafa, property developer Delfin Lee “eyes freedom soon.”

So, we reported in our banner last issue.

As a consequence of the 7-5-2 vote on Tuesday, “the respondent Lee…is entitled to bail as a matter of right," said Court Spokesman Theodore Te.

For over four years now, Lee has been locked up at the Pampanga Provincial Jail, virtually on the basis of a TRO at the SC.

It was not too long ago though that everything about Delfin Lee was celebratory, chronicled in the local media – Punto! not excluded – most dutifully.

AUGUST 2008. “Xevera is the best thing that happened to Bacolor, getting richer not just in terms of income but pride and honor as well.” 

So lauded Mayor Romeo Dungca at the turn-over ceremony of the Xevera housing project in Barangay Calbutbut presided over by Vice President Noli De Castro and Globe Asiatique’s Delfin Lee in the presence of Pag-IBIG President-CEO Atty. Miro Quimbo.    
“This project gives a chance to poor people to own their own houses at a very beautiful site,” furthered Dungca.  
JANUARY 2009. “This is a phenomenon. I haven’t seen one quite like this in the whole country.” 
Thus, said Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, chair of the House of Representatives committee on housing and urban development, as he toured the Xevera housing project in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat.

“This (Xevera) should be imitated by other developers,” said Valencia, who himself is in the real estate business.  

JANUARY 2009. “Bili na kayo. P5,000 lang a month at walang down payment.”
A jovial President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called out as she inspected three townhouses at the P6-billion Xevera housing project in Barangay Tabun. She first graced the Lakas-CMD caucus at Holiday Inn Resort-Clark before proceeding to the new P70-million Mabalacat town hall donated by Xevera developer Delfin Lee of Globe Asiatique. 
“They’re beautiful and affordable,” Arroyo told Lee and Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) Chairman Sec. Edgardo Pamintuan as they went inside the two-storey houses costing about P5,000 a month through Pag-Ibig funds. 
“Ah, simbahan ya pala (oh, it’s a church),” said the beaming President as she took notice of the Sanctuario de San Angelo. 
Arroyo, wearing a red dress, witnessed Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales hand over to Lee a resolution making him “adopted son of Mabalacat for his immense contribution to the development of the first-class municipality.” 

APRIL 2009. Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) Chair Edgardo Pamintuan described Lee as “a silent developer, unassuming and self-effacing.” He added that as a friend, “Lee won’t forget you.” 
Deng Pangilinan, two-time president of the Pampanga Press Club (PPC), said Lee is a “decent man who has genuine heart for the poor.”

“It’s a dream come true for the press to have houses of their own. It took a private individual to make that possible,” said Pangilinan. 
MAY 2009. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus led the turnover of the P100 million integrated school at Xevera housing project in Barangay Tabun, bolstering this town’s commitment to provide free quality education.
Lapus, Xevera Developer Delfin Lee, ABS-CBN executive Gina Lopez and other regional Department of Education (DepEd) officials signed the deed of donation for the school named after Asuncion Lee, mother of Delfin. 
Lapus expressed elation over the “beautiful school,” saying as if “you are in California when you are in Xevera.”
In his speech, Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales said the “school will further make education readily available in our beloved town. He added that “education is the key to success.”   
JUNE 2009. A housing subdivision recently cited by the United Nations and government officials for plotting the template of urban development in the country, was once again mentioned as the number one factor in the 92 percent growth rate of the housing loan take-out of Pag-IBIG Fund in Northern and Central Luzon.
“It’s unprecedented,” said newly appointed Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Jaime Fabiaña during an interview with journalists at the Developers’ Forum of the Pag-IBIG Fund Home Development Mutual Fund held at the Holiday Land function hall in the City of San Fernando.
Fabiaña, who gave the opening remarks during the forum, said the Xevera housing projects in Bacolor and Mabalacat in Pampanga have greatly contributed to the rise in their housing loan takeout. 
“Saan ka makakakita ng subdivision na kumpleto?” Mayroon nang eskuwelahan, munisipyo, palengke at iba pa,” Fabiaña said. 
When asked why Vice President Noli De Castro who is also the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) seems to be favoring Xevera, Fabiaña said the vice president gives his blessings to all housing development projects in the country and not just Xevera. 
He said Pag-IBIG Fund has nearly cleansed its list of erring developers which had earlier caused troubles to house buyers and delinquent payers. 
Fabiaña praised Xevera for a having a “buy-back” program of five years instead of only two years. He explained that Xevera is classified under window number one where processing is done much less because of its proven track-record and reputation…

NOW, PRAY tell, why was/is Delfin Lee even in jail?