Palace urges Cebu businessman Peter Lim to surrender

MALACAÑANG PALACE has urged suspected drug lord Peter Lim to surrender peacefully and face accusations against him.

Lim went into hiding after posting bail and police launched a manhunt in Cebu after the court ordered his arrest so he can answer all criminal charges against him. “We are asking Peter Lim, please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

But Roque was quick to clarify that he is not appealing to Lim police tracker teams have been formed to find him. “I’m just saying surrender. I’m not appealing. I’m just saying if you don’t surrender, we will still get you,” he said.

Roque said the government will guarantee that Lim would be accorded a fair trial if he decides to surrender. “if you’re innocent, then, we guarantee that you will be given your day in court. I think we have proven to the whole world, that we have an independent judiciary,” he said. “You have nothing to fear by way of being a victim of injustice. We have competent courts, so I think, he should surrender.”

Lim remains the subject of the manhunt and that there is no information yet whether the businessman from Cebu has left the country. The Makati City Regional Trial Court issued warrant of arrest on August 14 against Lim for a drug case filed by the Department of Justice.

Lim and several others, including self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, have been charged with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.