Editorial: Time to give up

(Editorial Cartoon by Rolan John Alberto)
(Editorial Cartoon by Rolan John Alberto)

THE Makati Regional Trial Court has issued a warrant of arrest against Cebuano businessman Peter Lim, who, unfortunately for him, is being used as a symbol of the determination—or lack of it—of the Duterte administration in doing the war against illegal drugs right. Now all eyes are on what will happen to his case next. Which for Lim can be both a boon and a bane.

Lim has taken center stage in the government’s fight against illegal drugs after no less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself put him prominently in the list of the country’s suspected major drug traders. Government apparently found it hard to translate that allegation into a strong court case for lack of enough proof to prop it up. So he remained free.

In the meantime, the war against the illegal drugs trade raged, with bodies piling up nationwide, many of those killed being suspected drug dealers and the others, law enforcers. With the conduct of the “war” becoming controversial, those opposed to it would go back time and again to Lim’s case. The claim being spread is that Lim was being given a different kind of treatment.

The court finally issuing a warrant of arrest against Lim has been welcomed by those who have been ranting about the harshness of the treatment of ordinary suspects in the illegal drugs trade and the supposed kid-glove treatment of the others like Lim. But it would be good to point out that this by no means does not mean Lim is already guilty as charged.

It would be wrong, therefore, for people to want law enforcers to go after him as if he is already a convicted criminal. Like any other respondent in a case, Lim should be given his day in court and his safety assured. But that also means he should surrender himself to the authority of the court, which charged him with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading together with self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa and several others.

Evading arrest won’t help Lim’s cause. It would not only make him look bad but would also give reason for the hawkish elements in our midst to insist he should be treated harshly.

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