DOJ set to ask for HDO vs Peter Lim

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Justice confirmed yesterday that Cebu businessman Peter Go Lim is still in the Philippines and prosecutors are set to ask the court to issue a hold departure order against him.

“Per BI (Bureau of Immigration) records, he left for a short trip abroad last March but returned after a few days. So Peter Go Lim is supposed to be in the country,” said DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

Lim was indicted for alleged trading of illegal drugs.

Guevarra said considering that Lim has the capability to leave the country, prosecutors would need to ask the Regional Trial Court in Makati City where they filed charges against Lim and several others, to issue an HDO against him.

“I expect our prosecutors to file an urgent motion for the issuance of hold departure orders against all the accused as a matter of course,” he said.

The DOJ had found probable cause to file two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading against Lim, Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, Ruel Malindangan, and others.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said that aside from Lim, Malindangan is also still at large.

They were accused of violating Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of Republic Act no. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

It was reported that it was at the Cash & Carry in Makati City where Lim allegedly agreed to supply Espinosa with illegal drugs.

But the DOJ believes that Lim’s repeated denial that he was the top drug lord “Jaguar” is immaterial.

The prosecutors relied on the admission made by Espinosa during the legislative investigation of the Senate committees on justice and public order, along with Adorco’s positive identification of Lim as one of Espinosa’s suppliers, as sufficient grounds to establish probable cause to charge them with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

Navera said that they utilized the “interlocking confession” made by Espinosa and Adorco against Lim.

“The positive identification of Adorco (of Lim), the admission of Kerwin Espinosa as to their dealings with Peter Go Lim were the basis of our probable cause, determination against all of them not just Peter Go Lim,” Navera added.

In Cebu, the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) -7 said they are ready to implement the warrant of arrest that may be issued against Lim.

“Of course, kung naay warrant, then we will be doing our duty to enforce it… it’s part of the job. Whoever we are mandated to arrest, we will have to arrest even though we will risk our lives to it,” said PRO -7 spokesperson, Supt. Reyman Tolentin.

Meanwhile, the new chief of CIDG -7, Supt. Lito Patay, said they have not received a copy of a warrant just yet.

It was CIDG-7 that was tasked to investigate Lim’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Tolentin said that wherever Lim is, now that he is indicted, the law will go after him.

“We think naa pa siya kay kung wala na siya, national man eventually the arms of the law basta may warrant. Bisag asa sa Pilipinas basta naay warrant,” Tolentin said. — /JMO (FREEMAN)