THE Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) has issued an arrest warrant against Cebu businessman Peter Lim, self-confessed drug lord Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa, and several others over their involvement in illegal drugs.
The court has also set the arraignment of their case for 1:30 p.m. on August 28.
Lim and Espinosa were charged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. Others accused were Marcelo Adorco, Ruel Malindangan, and several John Does.
The warrant was issued four days after the new panel of government prosecutors tasked to reinvestigate the drug-related complaint against them indicted Lim for conspiracy with Espinosa and the others.
Espinosa and the others were indicted in a separate resolution issued in July 2018 by the same panel of prosecutors.
READ: Lim, Espinosa indicted for conspiracy to trade drugs
The panel found probable cause to charge them for violation of Section 26(B) in relation to Section 5, Article 11 of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
It said it finds the admission of Espinosa and his aide Adorco in a Senate investigation on the proliferation of illegal drugs sufficient to establish probable cause to charge them. Espinosa and Adorco had identified Lim as their supplier of illegal drugs,
The panel said that conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading is a distinct offense under the law.
In the arrest warrant issued by Judge Gina Palamos of Makati RTC Branch 65, the court found that "it has jurisdiction over the subject matter" and that "probable cause exist" to hold Lim and his co-accused.
Unconfirmed reports said Lim has left the country. Espinosa, on the other hand, has been detained at the National Bureau of Investigation's Detention Center in Manila.
Adorco has been admitted to the government's witness protection program, while Malindangan remains at-large. (SunStar Philippines)