PETER Lim, the suspected Cebu-based drug lord, is not the Central Visayas' top drug trader "Jaguar," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Friday.
In a press conference in Department of Justice (DOJ), Aguirre said Chinese businessman Lim, the alleged drug lord who faced President Rodrigo Duterte last July, is not the region's top drug lord Jaguar.
"Akala natin 'yung namatay sa Las Piñas is not the Peter Lim or Jaguar of Cebu pero apparently, siya yun," Aguirre said.
According to the Justice Secretary, Jaguar is Jeffrey Diaz, the Cebuano who was killed in an operation conducted by Central Visayas Regional Intelligence Division and the Las Piñas City Police on June 17.
Aguirre said this was confirmed by Jaguar's alleged bagman, Reynaldo Diaz, who is now under the DOJ's Witness Protection Program (WPP).
"Ang nakuha nating witness, 'yung bagman ni Jaguar. He is still with the WPP," Aguirre said.
But according to Aguirre, he cannot disclose yet if Lim has involvement in illegal drug trade.
"Wala pang report, alam ko iniimbestigahan pa rin siya because he is involved in illegal drugs."
When asked why it seemed like the investigation on Lim has no progress while the case build up against Senator de Lima is done in haste, the Secretary said: "Well apparently hindi nakafocus dun ang investigation kasi nga talagang namatay na si Jaguar e. Ang akala nating Peter Lim is Jaguar pero apparently, Jaguar is Jaguar na namatay nung June 17."
On July 21, Lim surrendered before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after Duterte ordered him to submit himself to investigation to prove that he was not a member of the drug triad that operates in the country.
The NBI created a fact-finding team led by its anti-illegal drugs task force chief Juan Roel Bolivar to probe and establish the true identity of Lim, as he was alleged to be the Jaguar of Cebu.
Lim, however, denied the accusations against him and assured Duterte that he supports the administration’s war against illegal drugs.
Lim also stressed that he is not the "Jaguar" the government is looking for.
The NBI has no updates yet on the fact-finding probe on Lim's identity and his alleged link to illegal drugs.
Once the NBI established that Lim is involved in illegal drug trade, the agency will file charges against him before the DOJ. (Sunnex)