Hold order out vs Lim

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court has issued a hold departure order preventing road rage suspect David Lim Jr. from leaving the country.

RTC Branch 9 Judge Alexander Acosta granted the motion filed by the complainant, Epraim Nuñal, after finding it meritorious.

Nuñal, 33, resident of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, filed an urgent motion seeking to prevent Lim from going out of the country after the latter was previously allowed to travel abroad. Lim and his family went on vacation abroad from May 18 to June 8.

The prosecution tried to oppose the travel but was eventually granted by the court. This prompted Nuñal’s lawyer, Mundlyn Misal-Martin, to seek a hold departure order to prevent the accused from going out of the country in the future while the case is yet to be resolved. A copy of the hold order was already given to the Bureau of Immigration.

Lim is facing charges of illegal possession of ammunition and frustrated homicide.

He was accused of shooting Nuñal at the height of their argument over traffic on March 19 at 3 a.m. along F. Sotto Street in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City. The latter was hit in the right ankle and left thigh.

 Both cases, however, were referred back to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for preliminary investigation. Lim asked that the cases be remanded to the prosecutor, claiming that he was not given the opportunity to submit his counter affidavit.

Acosta and Judge Ricky Jones Macabaya, who is handling the frustrated homicide case, have given the prosecutor’s office 30 days to complete the reinvestigation.—Mylen P. Manto/FPL

DSWD7: Beneficiaries

not forced to buy “fake” rice

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas denied imposing “no purchase, no exit policy” during the distribution of rice subsidy to the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Filipino Program (4Ps) in Santa Fe, Cebu.

DSWD-7 information officer Leah Quintana said there was no truth to the allegation that beneficiaries were forced to buy “fake” rice. Quintana said the directive from Manila is to give cash to the beneficiaries for them to decide on what variety of rice to buy.

She said they have already asked their local counterpart to look into the reported “fake” rice after they were dragged into the controversy.

Some beneficiaries of 4Ps in Santa Fe claimed they were forced to buy rice during the distribution of the cash assistance. According to the reports, beneficiaries were not allowed to leave the venue without buying rice.

Some of the beneficiaries claimed to have fallen ill after consuming the rice they have bought. Quintana said they immediately sent a grievance focal person to Santa Fe to investigate.

She said the assigned personnel will check on the allegations, determine the circumstances and verify the truth behind them. Quintana said they will also check whether local personnel involved in the distribution have violated the guidelines of the program.

Quintana said the agency’s next move will depend on the outcome of the investigation. Reports of the alleged fake rice circulated online since Wednesday.

The municipal government of Santa Fe and the Cebu provincial government have also conducted separate investigations.

The National Food Authority, on the other hand, denied the presence of fake rice in Cebu. The agency has reassured the public that there is no proof that fake rice is being sold in the market at present. (FREEMAN)