BOBBY NALZARO:

What do businessman Peter Lim, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama and Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot have in common? They are all in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of alleged drug lords and drug protectors. The names of these personalities were announced by the President last year. But until now, no criminal charges were filed against them. Lim was recently subpoenaed by the Department of Justice to appear before prosecutors on Aug. 14 for a preliminary investigation. I am not a lawyer but I doubt that a case against Lim would prosper by mere allegations by so-called witnesses that he is into the illegal drug trade.

What do businessman Peter Lim, former mayor Michael Rama and Daanbantayan Mayor Vic Loot have in common? They all have been tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as drug lords or drug protectors. The President mentioned them when he made public his list of people linked to the illegal drugs trade.

Every time issues about illegal drugs surface, like in the recent killing of Ozamiz City’s Parojinogs, who were accused of being illegal drug traders, the names of Lim, Rama and Loot would also go back in the limelight.

But until now, no criminal charges have been filed against Lim and Rama (being civilians) and administrative charges against Loot (being an elective official). Lim, who has been accused as a drug lord long before, was recently subpoenaed by the Department of Justice to appear on Aug. 14 for a preliminary investigation.

The businessman, who was rumored to have left the country, faced the media the other day and assured full cooperation in the investigation. He expressed fear for his life, saying there might be quarters who want to take advantage of the situation and kill him. Well, this is not a remote possibility. I don’t know how Lim and his family handled the situation.

I doubt if this case against Lim would prosper using mere allegations from witnesses. Some drug traffickers caught inflagrante delicto even escaped criminal prosecution, how much more with Lim when all are wild accusations and mere allegations.

Years ago, two of Lim’s trusted men, Bernard Liu and Ananias Dy, testified before a House inquiry accusing Lim and his brother, Wellington, of being drug traffickers. Nothing happened. Liu was shot dead by unknown killers while Dy was found dead in a rented apartment in Talisay City.

Rama, on the other hand, is still moving heaven and earth to clear his name. He has been looking for connections so he can meet President Duterte personally and explain his side. He is also waiting for a formal charge so he can defend himself in the proper forum. But until now, no charges have been filed against him.

He visited various government agencies and religious leaders that can help clear his name. But poor Mike, all these proved futile. Because of this, his plan to run next elections has been jeopardized.

Loot, whose name has been repeatedly mentioned by the President in various forums, has been consistently denying that he is into the illegal drug trade. Just recently, he claimed he has been cleared by the CIDG central office. But the other day, during the 113th anniversary of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), he was mentioned again by the President.

These personalities will carry that “extra baggage” unless and until cleared by no less than the President. Its a continuing agony for them especially because the public is very judgmental. But whether the accusations are true or not, their credibility and image have already been shattered as far as the public is concerned. And only time can tell when they can redeem them.

Every time issues about illegal drugs surface, the names of Lim, Rama and Loot would also go back in the limelight