Court bars Lim from leaving Philippines

CEBU, Philippines — A hold-departure order (HDO) was issued yesterday against businessman Peter Lim, who is facing charges over his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 65 Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos issued the order while police are closely watching Lim’s six houses in Cebu.

“Finding the grounds relied upon by the prosecution to be impressed with merit, the Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for the Issuance of Hold Departure Order against Peter Go Lim is granted,” the order reads.

The court orders the Bureau of Immigration to keep Lim from leaving the country. The HDO will remain in effect unless cancelled by the court.

Palamos on August 14 also issued a warrant of arrest against Lim, who remains at large.

Last week, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Lim is “supposed to be in the country.”

He said that according to Immigration records, Lim “left for a short trip abroad last March but returned after a few days.”

Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, said that the police have deployed tracker teams to hunt down Lim.

Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin, spokesperson of the National Bureau of Investigation, also said that the bureau's regional directors have been told to assist in locating Lim.

Meanwhile, Lim’s ancestral house in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City is among those under surveillance by personnel of the intelligence units of Police Regional Office-7 and Cebu City Police Office.

“We received reports that he is still in Cebu. We are closely guarding his ancestral home and five other residences,” said Regional Intelligence Division chief Sr. Supt. Remus Medina.

 Medina said they sought the assistance of local government officials so they could enter Lim’s houses.

Police also urged the public to report to the nearest police station any sighting of the businessman.

Lim is facing two counts of violations of Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The trial is set to start on August 28. — Philstar.com FPL (FREEMAN)