THE legal counsel of David Lim Jr., suspect in the shooting of a nurse over a traffic altercation in Cebu City, said Tuesday that the video of the incident that went viral online does not tell the whole story.
"There was no intention to hurt the victim. But he kept on coming near David, so my client was forced to shot him in the legs to disable him," lawyer Orlando Salatandre, Lim counsel, said in a press conference Tuesday.
The video that went viral on social media made Lim appear to be the aggressor. Watch this.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. Sunday, March 19, on F. Sotto St., Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.
Based on the video provided by the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, Lim and the nurse, Ephraim Nuñal, faced each other, seemingly engaged in a verbal fight while the suspect's female companion tried to pacify him.
Lim tried to punch Nuñal but the latter managed to evade the attack. Lim went back inside his car and pulled out a gun, identified as caliber .22 pistol, and shot the victim several times.
Nuñal suffered gunshot wounds on his left thigh and right ankle.
But Salatandre asked the public not to judge and condemn his client, saying Lim is still presumed innocent.
He challenged the owner of the video to present the whole footage.
The lawyer said he was told by Lim that while his client was driving, two cars followed from behind.
The vehicles reportedly kept on honking their horns, prompting Lim to stop his car and confront Nuñal and two of the nurse's two companions, who are bigger than Lim.
A brawl erupted.
Salatandre said Lim thought he would be overpowered by three men, he got his gun and fired at the road, an attempt to scare them.
He said Lim was sober at the time of the incident.
Lim surrendered to Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas Director Noli Taliño in Camp Sergio Osmena in Cebu City at 2 a.m. Tuesday, March 21.
Taliño denied giving special treatment to Lim, nephew of businessman Peter Lim, who was accused as drug lord by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Salatandre also defended the police, saying his client did not ask for a massage while he is in the custody of PRO-Central Visayas. (SunStar Philippines)