Palace urges Lim: Surrender, face trial
Malacañang has ordered businessman Peter Lim to surrender and face his charges of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade in court.
“We’re asking Peter Lim, please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing yesterday.
“If you don’t surrender, we will still get you, but if you’re innocent, then we guarantee that you will be given your day in court,” he added.
Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65 Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos on August 14 issued the arrest order against Lim, along with confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco and Ruel Malindangan over drug charges.
The DOJ previously charged Lim with two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading along with Espinosa, Adorco and Malindangan and several others on August 10.
Lim has allegedly violated Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Roque assured Lim that he has nothing to be afraid of as the trial will be fair and just.
“We have, I think, proven to the whole world that we have an independent judiciary and you have nothing to fear by way of being a victim of injustice. We have competent courts, so I think he should surrender,” Roque said.
The trial is set to start on August 28.
Lim is yet to be found, but records at the Bureau of Immigration show that he still has not left the country. But, Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said the businessman has already left Cebu even before his arrest warrant was issued. A hold-departure order has also been issued against Lim to prevent him from leaving the Philippine territory.
Lim’s houses in Cebu are still being monitored by the police.