Hold order out vs Lim

The Regional Trial Court has issued a hold departure order preventing road rage suspect David Lim Jr. from leaving the country.

RTC Branch 9 Judge Alexander Acosta granted the motion filed by the complainant, Epraim Nuñal, after finding it meritorious.

Nuñal, 33, resident of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, filed an urgent motion seeking to prevent Lim from going out of the country after the latter was previously allowed to travel abroad. Lim and his family went on vacation abroad from May 18 to June 8.

The prosecution tried to oppose the travel but was eventually granted by the court. This prompted Nuñal’s lawyer, Mundlyn Misal-Martin, to seek a hold departure order to prevent the accused from going out of the country in the future while the case is yet to be resolved. A copy of the hold order was already given to the Bureau of Immigration.

Lim is facing charges of illegal possession of ammunition and frustrated homicide.

He was accused of shooting Nuñal at the height of their argument over traffic on March 19 at 3 a.m. along F. Sotto Street in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City. The latter was hit in the right ankle and left thigh.

Both cases, however, were referred back to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for preliminary investigation. Lim asked that the cases be remanded to the prosecutor, claiming that he was not given the opportunity to submit his counter affidavit.

Acosta and Judge Ricky Jones Macabaya, who is handling the frustrated homicide case, have given the prosecutor’s office 30 days to complete the reinvestigation.