PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, told fugitive Peter Lim to just "commit suicide" instead of submitting himself to authorities.
Lim, a Cebuano businessman and suspected drug lord, has been in hiding since August 2018, when a Makati court ordered his arrest.
"Peter Lim, if I were you, I would commit suicide. I-abbreviate mo na ikaw na magtali sa leeg mo (Abrreviate your life. Hang yourself)," the President said in a speech delivered at Palace's Rizal Hall Wednesday.
"Never ever surrender to me alive," the President added.
To recall, The Department of Justice (DOJ) had indicted Lim for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade, along with self-confessed drug lord Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindangan.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, tagging Lim as the source of "shabu" being sold by the Espinosa group in 2013 and 2014.
The DOJ initially dismissed in December 2017 the drug-related complaint filed against Lim, Espinosa, and several others for alleged lack of evidence.
But in March 2018, the DOJ overruled the dismissal of drug-related cases against Lim and Espinosa.
The Makati City Regional Trial Court on August 14, 2018 ordered the arrest of Lim for alleged involvement in illegal drug trade.
The Makati court also issued a hold departure order on August 17, 2018 against Lim to prevent him from leaving the country.
On September 14, 2018, the Department of Justice offered a P500,000 reward for anyone who can provide information on Lim's whereabouts. (SunStar Philippines)