NBI to help arrest Lim

CEBU, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday said that agents of National Bureau of Investigation would assist in the arrest of businessman 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.

Dioscoro Fuentes Jr., Lim’s spokesperson, said he does not know where his boss is.

Fuentes said Lim has not reported to his office at Hilton Heavy Equipment since after an explosion happened early last month. He said his boss also did not communicate to him anymore.

On Tuesday, a Makati court 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.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas director Superintendent Lito Patay said they have also received a copy of the warrant. He said they will also assist in serving the warrant if they find Lim.

“Basta makit-an permanente i-implement, pero wala na man siya sa iyang balay, gipa-adto na namo,” he said.

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.