THE counsel of spouses David Lim Sr. and Judilyne “Bebong” Chua Lim yesterday, Nov. 28, said that under the law, the case against Bebong will be automatically dismissed by the court because of her sudden death last Monday. The Department of Justice (DOJ) found probable cause to charge in court the Lims together with alleged rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan and three others two weeks ago, for rice trade monopoly. The DOJ, in its ruling accused them of violating Paragraph 3 of the Revised Penal Code for “combining with and employing farmers cooperatives and organizations to participate in the bidding of rice importations with the intention of manipulating and increasing the market price of the supply.” David Lim Jr. told SunStar Cebu that his mother died at the age of 56. When sought for comment, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he has not received any information on the passing of Judilyn Lim, one of the respondents in the case the DOJ filed. He said, though, that in any case, “death extinguishes any and all criminal liability.” (EOB, KAC of SunStar Philippines)