Cops drop drugs angle in Lim shop explosions

More than the illegal drugs angle, police are looking at “labor conflict” as the possible root of the explosions that targeted the shop of Cebu businessman Peter Lim last Thursday.

Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, director of Police Regional Office-7, said he has no idea at the moment whether the explosions at Hilton Motors Corp.’s display center in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City last week had anything to do with illegal drugs.

“I could not say. We have no further information regarding ingon ana. I don’t know sa allegations about him. I could not confirm or deny because we have no further information,” he said.

Lim is facing charges before the Department of Justice for allegedly conniving with self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in distributing illegal drugs in the country.

Sinas said police are exploring a labor feud as being behind the attack following reports there were employees who did not allegedly receive their pay following their termination.

Based on the initial findings by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, the explosives used could not be labeled as an improvised explosive device since IEDs have a major component that was not found at the blast site.

He said what was found was a Molotov cocktail “consisting of a bottle filled with flammable liquid.”

“That’s why we are discussing with the Explosives Ordnance Division on how to analyze this one. Kapag IED, may major component. Anyway we will correct ourselves on succeeding reports,” he said.

To recall, security personnel at Lim’s shop heard two consecutive blasts that dawn. After the explosions, the electrical wirings and the bumper of a mini truck on display were found damaged.

Last June 30, the New Cebu Infinity KTV and Music Lounge along Archbishop Reyes Avenue in Cebu City, which is also reportedly owned by Lim and his brother Wellington, was also attacked by two unidentified men, who attempted to set the establishment on fire.

Luckily, employees were quick to douse the fire on the rooftop even before it could spread.

Lim’s spokesperson Dioscoro Fuentes Jr. earlier belied reports that the bar is owned by the Lims.

He also said Lim’s camp might ask the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas to get to the bottom of the attack on Hilton Motors.

NBI-7 Director Patricio Bernales said they have not received any communication coming from Lim’s side.