THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the Makati Regional Trial Court to issue a hold-departure order against Cebuano businessman Peter Go Lim, who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.
In an urgent motion filed before the Makati court yesterday, the DOJ noted that a warrant of arrest has yet to be issued against Lim.
Lim, 72, and cohorts Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, Ruel Malindangan and several John Does were charged before the court last Friday, or Aug. 10, for violation of Section 26(b) in relation to Section 5, Article 11 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Among the accused, the prosecutor said Lim has a history of traveling to other countries as well as the resources to do so.
“He is still at-large since there is no warrant of arrest issued against him as of this writing. He is clearly a flight risk given his vast resources,” the prosecutor said.
Conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading is a capital offense punishable by reclusion perpetua, the DOJ said.
Espinosa, son of slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, is detained at the NBI Detention Center in Manila while Adorco has been admitted to the government’s witness protection program.
Background
Malindangan is also at-large, but is apparently not a flight risk.
Lim was indicted Friday, about two years after he was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug lord operating in the Visayas.
Lim was identified by Adorco, who has turned state witness, as the illegal drugs supplier of Kerwin Espinosa during a Senate inquiry.
Lim and Espinosa were, however, cleared by the DOJ of drug charges in December 2017 because the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) did not include in its complaint Adorco’s testimony and Espinosa’s admission during the inquiry.
The DOJ resolution, which was made public in March 2018, drew the ire of President Duterte and sparked public outrage, prompting then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to overturn the resolution and form a new panel of prosecutors to reinvestigate the case.
On July 19, 2018, the prosecutors found probable cause to charge Espinosa, Peter Co, Adorco, Lovely Impal and Malindangan with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.
PNP reaction
The same panel of prosecutors indicted Lim, who had sought a separate preliminary investigation, in a resolution released last Aug. 10.
The information against Lim, Espinosa and the others were filed before the Makati Regional Trial Court also on Aug. 10.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) hailed the DOJ’sw indictment of Lim and several others.
“The indictment of Peter Lim is consistent with our own investigation on the illegal drug activities of the persons involved,” said PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde in a press conference in Camp Crame yesterday.
In a related development, Senior Supt. Royina Garma, the director of the Cebu City Police Office, said they will serve the warrant against Lim as soon as they get it.
“We are just waiting for the warrant of arrest kung true lahat yung information that they resolved it and that they were able to determine a probable cause so the next step talaga pagdating sa korte niyan is a warrant of arrest will be issued. So any police officer can serve the warrant of arrest if a warrant will be issued,” Garma said.
She said that there was no surveillance on Lim, only information gathering.
“We always anticipate, of course. The police should always be one step ahead. Kung maiwanan yung police niyo, wala na (What’s the point if the police are left behind),” she said.
Garma said that Lim’s camp exhausted all legal remedies but in the end he was still charged.
“Di ba nakakatakot (Isn’t that a scary thought)? The mere fact na isipin mo na (that) you’ll be confined and then some of your civil rights will be suspended,” she said. (WITH JOB)