EDITORIAL Not an ordinary fugitive

It’s confirmed that controversial businessman Peter Lim has already left Cebu. Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas said Lim exited Cebu even before the warrant for his arrest was issued.

However, Sinas is confident that Lim is still in the country, saying the businessman is in Manila. “He is somewhere in Metro Manila, because accordingly, some of those who are privy sa iyaha, just before nigawas ang warrant, tua na sila sa Manila, gi-ready na nila ilang mga appeal, and motion for reconsiderations, sa Supreme Court, kay gi-expect mogawas ang warrant so they are not already here,” he said.

The Philippine National Police is reportedly coordinating with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the effort to arrest Lim, who is facing several drug charges filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Crime Investigation Unit.

But since Lim has not turned himself in to the authorities following the issuance of the arrest warrant, he is now considered a fugitive. And as a fugitive, he seems not to be entertaining the thought of surrendering unless his family or his legal counsels advise to do so.

By opting to hide from the law, it is clear that the businessman is avoiding a court trial. Being a high-profile fugitive, he is expected to exhaust all his resources to stay away from the hands of pursuing law enforcers.

The authorities certainly face a gargantuan task in arresting Lim. He is not an ordinary runaway. As a businessman, he must have connections within the business community. And as a Filipino-Chinese, he certainly has many links inside the Chinese community.

Given Lim’s status, the authorities will surely face challenges locating him. But they better be ready to take on any challenge, otherwise the hunt for Lim will be a disaster, tantamount to the Ruben Ecleo Jr. saga.