THE Supreme Court (SC) has junked the petition filed by accused drug lord Peter Lim that challenged the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) order to reinvestigate the drug charges against him, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday, September 26.
In a text message, Guevarra said the Supreme Court has found no abuse of discretion on the part of the DOJ when it decided to reinvestigate the charges against Lim.
The SC Third Division said in its decision, dated July 23 and released to the media on September 26, that it junked Lim’s petition "for failure to show any grave abuse of discretion in rendering the challenged order and resolution."
Guevarra said the SC held that “on the contrary, the questioned order/resolution are in accordance with the facts and the applicable law and jurisprudence.”
Lim earlier asked the SC to stop the DOJ from reinvestigating his case and reinstate the DOJ resolution dated December 20, 2017 that cleared him and several others of drug charges for insufficiency of evidence.
He argued that the DOJ gravely abused its discretion when it issued on March 19 the department order, which set aside its panel of prosecutors’ decision amid public outcry.
In his petition, Lim said that "public outrage" could never be considered as evidence.
He also said that the DOJ's decision to revisit the drug charges lodged against him violated his rights to life, liberty and due process of law and speedy disposition of his case.
Pursuant to the DOJ’s order dated March 19, the DOJ conducted another preliminary investigation into Lim’s case and in August, after finding probable cause into the complaints filed by the Philippine National Police, charged Lim before the Makati Regional Trial Court for conspiracy to commit drug trading.
A warrant for Lim's arrest was issued on August 14. Lim has yet to be found. (SunStar Philippines)