Peter Lim still in the country — DOJ chief

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed yesterday Cebu-based businessman Peter Go Lim, who has been indicted for alleged illegal drugs trading, is still in the country and prosecutors would ask the local court to issue a hold departure order (HDO) against the accused. 

Guevarra said that based on the information provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Lim had returned to the country after a brief trip abroad. 

“Per BI records, he left for a short trip abroad last March but returned after a few days. So Peter Go Lim is supposed to be in the country,” said Guevarra. 

Considering that he has the capability to leave the country, the DOJ chief said that prosecutors would immediately request the Makati City regional trial court (RTC), where they indicted Lim for two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drugs trade, to issue an HDO against him.

“I expect our prosecutors to file an urgent motion for the issuance of hold departure orders against all the accused as a matter of course,” he added.

The DOJ had found probable cause to file two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading against Lim, Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, Ruel Malindangan and others and formally charged them before the Makati RTC last Friday morning.

Senior assistant state prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said that aside from Lim, Malindangan is also at large. 

They were accused of violating Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

It was reported that Lim allegedly agreed to supply illegal drugs to Espinosa during a meeting at the Cash & Carry store in Makati.

But the DOJ believes that Lim’s denial that he is the top drug lord known as “Jaguar” is immaterial. 

The prosecutors relied on the admission made by Espinosa during the public hearing of the Senate committees on justice and public order, along with Adorco’s positive identification of Lim as one of Espinosa’s suppliers, to establish probable cause to charge them with conspiracy to commit illegal drugs trading. 

Navera said that they utilized the “interlocking confession” made by Espinosa and Adorco against Lim. 

“The positive identification of Adorco (of Lim), the admission of Kerwin Espinosa as to their dealings with Peter Go Lim were the basis of our probable cause determination against all of them, not just Peter Go Lim,” Navera added.