Guevarra: NBI can assist in locating Peter Lim

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said National Bureau of Investigation agents would assist in the arrest of Peter Lim if the police fail to locate him.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra clarified: “The warrant of arrest is generally addressed to all law enforcement agencies including the NBI.”

But should the members of the Philippine National Police “fail to find the accused,” Guevarra said he would order the NBI “to assist.”

The justice chief, citing Bureau of Immigration records, said that Lim is “supposed to be in the country” after a short trip outside the country.

The FREEMAN earlier reported that they tried to confirm with Dioscoro Fuentes Jr., Lim’s spokesperson, if the businessman is still in the country. Fuentes, however, said that he was not authorized to talk about the matter.

On Tuesday, a Makati court has issued an arrest warrant against Lim. Acting Presiding Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65 upheld the Department of Justice’s finding of probable cause to hold Lim for trial.

She directed the station commander of Mabolo Police Station of Cebu City to execute the warrant against Lim.

“If after 10 days from receipt of this warrant by the police officer, particularly assigned by you to execute it, the arrest of the accused failed, you will report such fact to me stating the reasons for such failure,” the order further read.

Lim and his co-accused, Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco and Ruel Malindagan, are expected to attend the hearing at 1:30 p.m. on August 28.

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 court has also set a hearing on the state prosecutors’ request for a hold departure order against Lim on Friday, August 17. — Kristine Joy Patag