Palace to Peter Lim: Surrender, prove innocence in court

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday ordered Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim to surrender and face his charges of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

“We’re asking Peter Lim: please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

“If you don’t surrender, we will still get you, but if you’re innocent, then we guarantee that you will be given your day in court,” he added.

Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65 Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos on August 14 issued the arrest order against Lim, along with confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco and Ruel Malindangan over drug charges.

The DOJ previously charged Lim with two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading along with Espinosa, Adorco and Malindangan and several others on August 10.

READ: DOJ indicts Peter Lim for conspiracy to commit drug trade

Lim has allegedly violated Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Roque assured Lim that he has nothing to be afraid of as the trial will be fair and just.

“We have, I think, proven to the whole world that we have an independent judiciary and you have nothing to fear by way of being a victim of injustice. We have competent courts, so I think he should surrender,” Roque said.

The trial is set to start on August 28.

Lim is yet to be found, but records at the Bureau of Immigraton show that he still has not left the country. A hold-departure order has also been issued against Lim to prevent him from leaving the  Philippine territory.

Lim’s houses in Cebu, meanwhile, are still being monitored by the Central Visayas police. — Philstar intern Ali Ian Marcelino Biong

RELATED: Peter Lim eludes arrest