No instruction yet to probe Lim

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 has not received any instruction just yet to probe Cebuano businessman Peter Lim even after PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña said on national TV that Lim is the one President Rodrigo Duterte tagged as being involved in the illegal drug trade in the Visayas.

"Wala pay instruction," Regional Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz told The FREEMAN.

He said they will just comply once a formal directive reaches them. Lapeña identified Lim in an interview with ABS-CBN newscast Bandila.

Lim personally met Duterte this month in Manila to clear his name and deny the allegations.

Just last week, Lim went to the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila to clear his name and to show good faith in following the presidential advice.

"(Being here was) based on his own decision pursuant to the instruction of the president to have himself investigated by the bureau," Lim's lawyer Ramon Esguerra has said.

"The primordial reason why

he voluntarily went here following the instruction of the president was to clear his name, that the Peter Lim that had been referred by the president is not the same person as my client," Esguerra added.

The week before, Lim met with Duterte in Davao City.

The FREEMAN reached out to Lim's family for comment yesterday but they chose not to issue a statement.

In a text message, Lim's son said, "No, thanks."

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With John M. Destacamento, Assignments Editor