After the indictment of alleged drug trader Peter Lim, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said they are ready to arrest him if a warrant is released by the court.
“We hail the indictment of Peter Lim by the Department of Justice on charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy, along with confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa and several other persons who were earlier charged by the DOJ,” Albayalde said in a briefing on Monday.
“The whole PNP actually is ready, hindi lang sa Central Visayas. For all you know baka wala na nga do’n ‘yan, (baka) nagtatago na,” he added.
However, Lim’s spokesperson Dioscoro Fuentes said Lim is still “very much in Cebu.
On Monday, Central Visayas’ Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head Supt. Lito Patay said they are ready to arrest the controversial businessman.
READ: Supt. Lito Patay to arrest Peter Lim
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DOJ released a resolution on Friday, which states that the admission of Espinosa and other individuals’ testimonies indicates that filing a case against Lim has basis.
READ: DOJ finds probable cause to charge Cebu businessman Peter Lim for drugs
According to Albayalde, the DOJ’s resolution, which established a probable cause, is in line with their investigation.
He also said it was another testament that the war on drugs is not about apprehending people from impoverished sectors.
“This only goes to show that the government’s campaign against illegal drugs does not discriminate against the poor,” he claimed.
“Simply put, whether one is rich or poor, or whether you are an influential businessman or just an ordinary person, the law applies equally to all,” he added.
After he assumed office in 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte has named Lim, who allegedly uses the alias “Jaguar”, as one of the country’s biggest drug dealers. Both met later on, with Lim denying his involvement in the illegal drug trade. /vvp
READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: Who is Peter Lim?