Coddlers of Peter Lim face criminal charges – DOJ

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday warned that criminal charges will be filed against individuals who helped businessman Peter Lim evade arrest and prosecution in his drug trading conspiracy case.

"Definitely, we will also run after the coddlers of Peter Lim. Those found to have aided him in evading arrest will face criminal cases," Guevarra told journalists covering the DOJ.

He cited provisions on the obstruction of justice in the Revised Penal Code and Presidential Decree No. 1829 as possible charges against Lim’s coddlers.

Lim was charged in court based on complaints filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Also charged were detained drug trader Kerwin Espinosa, state witness Marcelo Adorco and Ruel Malindangan.

DOJ prosecutors led by Senior Associate State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera utilized Espinosa’s confession aired during a Senate investigation and Adorco’s positive identification of Lim.

Last month, DOJ prosecutors filed three separate counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drugs trade against Espinoza, Malindangan, convicted drug lord Peter Co and Lovely Impal before the regional trial courts in the cities of Manila and Makati.

Lim has been the subject of manhunt by elements of the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"Too bad the PNP and the NBI have yet to find some leads as to his whereabouts," Guevarra said.

“Per Bureau of Immigration records, Mr. Lim has not left the country since his last trip in March,” he said.

If Lim has left the country, the government can seek the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in finding him, he added.