Lim faces CA grilling on Oyson, Prudente cases

Interior and Local Government Secretary-designate Alfredo Lim may have a hard time getting the nod of the Commission on Appointments because of his "dark side," the House majority leader in the CA said yesterday.

Masbate Rep. Emilio Espinosa told the weekly Friday forum at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City that at least three people representing various groups have conveyed to him their intention to oppose the appointment.

The groups cited past cases implicating the former police chief, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director and mayor, he said.

The administration lawmaker declined to identify the persons and groups, but said he already informed them that all complaints should be made in writing and notarized.

Espinosa said those opposed to Lim's appointment cited the alleged summary execution of drug lord Pepe Oyson in the late 1980s, the Mendiola massacre during the Aquino administration and the two assassination attempts on former Polytechic University of the Philippines president Dr. Nemesio Prudente as among the cases they would raise against the newly installed chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Lim was the Manila police chief when militant farmers were killed during a dispersal of a rally in Mendiola and when two assassination attempt were made on Prudente.

While being transported in a van, Oyson was killed by agents of the NBI, which was then headed by Lim.

The tales of Lim's "dark side" were published in Smart File magazine in a series detailing alleged anomalies involving prominent political leaders and businessmen.

Smart File, which described the former police chief as "Manila's finest hoodlum" and as the "Grim Reaper of Manila," also made mention of Mafia-style "salvagings" and other illegal activities.

However, Senators Robert Barbers and Aquilino Pimentel said the cases mentioned by the magazine cannot stand against the confirmation of Lim in the bicameral body.

Barbers, chairman of the CA local government committee, said the claims cannot be given weight until somebody comes out and substantiates them.

Pimentel noted that while Smart File has probative value, it cannot be used to oppose the confirmation of Lim as DILG chief.

Sen. Renato Cayetano, minority leader of the CA, said yesterday Lim deserves a confirmation.

"Unless there is substantial proof that he maliciously and intentionally violated human rights of certain individuals or groups, there would be no legal basis to refuse his confirmation," Cayetano said.

He explained that the confirmation process is constitutionally mandated, and while it is their duty to evaluate credentials of an appointee, "the CA cannot overlook the fact that President Estrada studied the qualifications and competence of Lim before appointing him to the sensitive position of DILG secretary."

Meanwhile, another member of the CA said he is keeping an open mind on the Lim appointment issue.

Rep. Carlos Padilla (LAMP, Nueva Vizcaya), a graduate of the school headed by Prudente, said they will first look into the human rights record of Lim, "and judge him after that."

"If no charges had been brought against Lim or if there were and they were dismissed, that would weigh in favor of the appointee," Padilla said.

He added that he did not know if Prudente would formally oppose Lim's appointment.