DRUG WAR | PNP still validating if suspected drug lord Peter Lim has left the country

June 28, 2021 , 01:22 PM

By Cherry Salazar

(June 28, 2021) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is still validating the information that businessman and suspected drug lord Peter Lim has already left the Philippines.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año gave the update in an interview with Teleradyo last week, saying this was the latest information they have on the Cebu-based Lim, who’s also the alleged supplier of drug trafficker Kerwin Espinosa.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said he has already ordered the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to probe the issue.

“We are checking on that. Wala pa tayong eksaktong information to validate this. But ako naniniwala na kung sakali ma-confirm man ‘yan, malalaman natin so we can make the necessary coordination kung saan na siya napunta,” said Eleazar in a press conference.

He also assured that the Lim would be arrested, whether or not he was hiding in the Philippines.

“Mahuhuli’t mahuhuli rin siya,” said Eleazar. “It’s just a matter of time.”

He also called on the public to report wanted persons, not necessarily just Lim, through the PNP’s “improved” complaint referral and monitoring system.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Bureau of Immigration has no records that Lim, whose passport expired in 2019, has already left the country.

“His last recorded foreign travel was in 2017,’ said Guevarra. “We cannot really be sure (if he’s still in the Philippines). Our country has a very extensive coastline. There are known backdoors in our southern borders.”

The DOJ earlier indicted Lim for conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. In 2018, the DOJ offered a reward of P500,000 for anyone who can provide information on Lim’s whereabouts.

In July 2016, just days after taking his oath of office, President Rodrigo Duterte named Lim as one of the biggest drug lords in the country. Within the same month, Duterte met with Lim in Davao City. He vowed to help Lim clear his name but also warned he would execute Lim if proven to have links to narcotics.

Around this time, a picture of Duterte and Lim together spread on social media. The two men, clad in Barong Tagalog, were reportedly both principal sponsors at a wedding held in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu two weeks before their meeting.

There were also reports that Lim and his brother supported the presidential campaign of Duterte.

Duterte, whose brutal drug war is subject to a possible investigation by the International Criminal Court, addressed Lim in a public speech in 2019.

“Peter Lim, if I were you, I would commit suicide. Never ever surrender to me alive,” said Duterte. “Ikukulong ko siya ng 200 years. Kulong or mag-suicide na lang siya.” (PM)

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