Road rage suspect claims self-defense
Cebu road rage suspect David Lim Jr. surrendered to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 before dawn yesterday, after three days of hiding from the authorities, claiming self-defense for the crime.
PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño said Lim, 28, surrendered around 2 a.m. Tuesday. He was accompanied by his mother and his lawyer Jun Salantandre.
The suspect was then held under the custody of the Regional Intelligence Division at Camp Osmeña after meeting Taliño.
The firearm that Lim used during the shooting incident was not recovered.
Prior to Lim’s surrender, Taliño confirmed that he had received information from Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald dela Rosa to call Special Assistant to the President Bong Go.
Go directed Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino to coordinate with the PNP for Lim’s surrender.
Lim was charged with frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms before the Cebu City prosecutor’s office yesterday afternoon.
Investigation showed that Lim shot nurse Ephraim Montalbo, 33, following a traffic altercation on F. Sotto street in Barangay Kamputhaw at around 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Montalbo was hit in the leg and confined in a hospital.
Lim immediately fled after the altercation.
Doria said a dashboard camera from another motorist captured the incident, which was forwarded to CCPO.
A bystander also witnessed the incident.
Lookout bulletin
On Monday night, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II issued an immigration lookout bulletin on Lim upon the request of Dino.
“We issued the lookout bulletin to curtail any effort on the part of Mr. David Lim Jr. or those trying to protect him to evade responsibility for the shooting. If he committed the act… he should squarely face the charges,” Aguirre said.
Unlike a hold departure order, a lookout bulletin cannot prevent a person from leaving the country, but it requires him to ask permission from the DOJ to ensure his return.
No special treatment
Dela Rosa denied claims that Lim is being given special treatment.
“What kind of special treatment? It is just normal for a mother to ensure the safe surrender of her son,” Dela Rosa said. “If you consider that special treatment, it is to our advantage because the suspect surrendered.” –