MANILA (Updated) -- There is no need for now to seek assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in locating businessman and alleged drug lord Peter Lim.
“Too early to alert Interpol. No record that Peter Lim has left the country since his indictment,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message Wednesday, September 19.
As per records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Lim left the country in March and returned four days later.
Since then, there was no record of his departure from the Philippines.
Guevarra earlier warned persons coddling Lim, who has been indicted for conspiracy to trade in illegal drugs, that they will be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.
A P500,000 bounty was also put up for any information that could lead to Lim’s arrest.
“The government is also ready to give a reward of P500,000 to anyone who can give information on the exact whereabouts of accused Peter Go Lim, provided that such information will lead to the actual arrest of said fugitive,” Guevarra said.
During the arraignment on August 28, neither Lim nor his co-accused Ruel Malindangan showed up but the other two accused -- self-confessed drug dealer Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa and Marcelo Adorco -- pleaded not guilty to the two counts of the non-bailable offense of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade.
Lim has been accused of supplying illegal drugs to Espinosa for distribution in the Visayas region.
Both Espinosa and Adorco are in government custody, while Malindangan is at-large and is also the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 65 Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos.
Last August 14, the court issued a warrant of arrest against Lim after evaluating the information and supporting evidence filed by the Department of Justice.
Palamos also ordered the BI to prevent Lim from leaving the country by issuing a hold departure order last August 17.
Espinosa, Adorco, and Malindangan are also facing two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade at the Manila RTC and Makati RTC, along with convicted drug lord Peter Co and alleged drug supplier Lovely Impal. (PNA/Keith A. Calayag/SunStar Philippines)