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Monday, June 24, 2002
KINTANAR: Let the Lims rest
By June Kintanar
AFTER the public hearing by the House committee on dangerous drugs here in Cebu several months ago ended, it was clear that Peter and Wellington Lim, the businessman-brothers who were the subjects of the investigation, were cleared of allegations of illegal drug connections. There were talks that Peter would be charged with perjury, but nothing came out of it. It was obvious that the talk about the perjury charge was nothing but a smokescreen to hide the embarrassment of the investigators in not finding any possible liability of the Lim brothers.
Lest some people might think the Lim brothers are still under a hold-departure order, they have traveled and spent their Christmas vacation in Hong Kong with their respective families. This was possible because the immigration bureau, on orders of the Department of Justice, lifted the hold-departure order. This was after the House committee found nothing that would pin down the businessmen for drug trafficking.
Now, it seems that some people are nitpicking on the Lim brothers. They have again brought up the name of Wellington for allegedly signing the game cards and consequently, paying the bills of then PNP director general, now Transportation Secretary-designate Leandro Mendoza, in a golf game at the Cebu Country Club. For one thing, Wellington’s lawyers insisted that the investigators could not prove that his (Wellington’s) signature on the golf card is really his. The allegation, the lawyers said, was not made by a certified handwriting expert, hence, disputable.
But then why apply the pressure on Wellington when what some people are after is the neck of Director Mendoza in connection with the latter’s forthcoming confirmation as DOTC secretary? Why, what’s morally or legally wrong for the chief of the country’s national police to be seen playing with some people who have been wrongly accused of having to do with drug trafficking? It is neither a fault of a mere suspect nor of a police general. What could be a big reason for a non-confirmation of a Cabinet appointment is a crime involving moral turpitude, right?
My point here is that the Lim brothers who were unjustly put to shame and public ridicule deserve some respite from public contempt. This applies not only to them but also to all others whose faces, perhaps, don’t look nice to some people who are basking in political power. Since the start of the public hearing last year, I was always of the impression that the investigation would turn out to be a grand witch-hunt. And it did.
Former congressman Sol Abines is a good friend. He is a compadre, in fact. That’s why I was aghast when I learned that he is now about to be arrested and held without bail on a heinous charge of murder.
Lately though, I learned that the former congressman and his co-accused are nowhere to be found. Of course, it will be fine if his disappearance would last only until his motion for reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan is resolved. But if he will disappear for good, then his lawyers know that he will be a fugitive from justice. If he taunts and tells the authorities catch me if you can, then he will not be different from Ruben Ecleo Jr. |
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