Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said law enforcement authorities are exerting all efforts to find businessman Peter Lim who eluded arrest after he was charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“The police, the NBI, and other law enforcement agencies are exerting all efforts to find Peter Go Lim and serve the warrant of arrest upon him,” Guevarra told reporters.
The Justice Chief made the assurance following reports that Lim can no longer be found from his residences.
READ: Cebu businessman Peter Lim eludes arrest
An arrest warrant was issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 65 Acting Presiding Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos against Lim last Aug. 14, as well as a hold departure order issued last Aug. 18.
Arraignment set
The RTC has set the arraignment of the Cebu-based businessman and his co-accused for August 28.
Although he eluded arrest, Guevarra said there is no record from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that Lim has left the country.
“Per BI records, Mr. Lim has not left the country since his last trip in March. They hope to bring him in court before his arraignment on Aug. 28,” said Guevarra.
Should Lim happen to slip out of the country, the Secretary said the government can seek the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in finding him.
“We may ask the Interpol for information on his whereabouts. Depending on which country he may have fled to, the Philippine government may ask for extradition or other forms of legal assistance,” he added.
Lim, together with self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindangan are facing a non-bailable offense of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade in violation of Section 26(b) in relation to Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Both Espinosa and Adorco are in government custody, while Malindangan remains at-large and also the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Makati RTC. /ee
READ: Makati court orders arrest of Peter Lim