Pampanga exec charged with estafa set for transfer to Valenzuela City

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Board Member Estelito “Shiwen” Lim is set for transfer from the Pampanga Provincial Jail (PPJ) to a Valenzuela City detention center, where he would be held while he continues to face charges of large-scale estafa.

Lim’s transfer came after Presiding Judge Mary Jane Dacara-Buenaventura of Regional Trial Court Branch 44 maintained her order of referral. Dated March 12, she referred the 10 criminal cases against Lim to the nearest judicial region, which is RTC Valenzuela City.

Buenaventura issued an order last March 17 for the final referral.

READ: Pampanga Board member surrenders on multiple estafa charges

in issuing an order of referral, the judge cited a Supreme Court circular requiring cases of elected officials to be transferred outside of their political jurisdiction.

The transfer became more definite after Presiding Judge Ayn Marie Grace Barit-Carig of RTC Branch 171 ordered PPJ warden Alain de Leon in a hearing last Tuesday to move Lim to the Valenzuela City jail.

Lim, who is on his first term, represents the third district of Pampanga in the local legislative board.

Almost a month after an arrest warrant was issued against him, Lim surrendered last March 9 to Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda.

In a phone interview, de Leon said the PPJ is “still arranging his transport and completing the documents for his transfer.”

Buenaventura had set no bail for nine of the estafa cases and P48,000 for another, according to court records.

Lim has been accused by multiple complainants of failing to return capital and interest on investments made in his restaurants, shoe businesses, and other ventures.

Records from the Securities and Exchange Commission indicate that his firm was not licensed to solicit investments.

The board member also has pending warrants for other cases. This marks the first time a sitting Pampanga provincial board member has been arrested on criminal charges.

In August 2025, Lim posted bail of P18,000 for each count in three estafa cases.

Last July, the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2 in the City of San Fernando issued a notice garnishing Lim’s salary to cover P1.13 million in a civil case for the collection of a sum of money and damages. /das