Rivalry seen as motive behind trader’s ambush

A rivalry with operators of the illegal numbers games masiao and suertres was one of the motives being looked into by the Cebu City police in last Thursday afternoon’s ambush of a businessman at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said 49-year-old businessman Edgar Lim has long been suspected as a financier of illegal masiao and suertres in Cebu.

In an evening raid last Feb. 3 at least 26 people including Lim were arrested in his home in Barangay Zapatera by the Cebu City police’s Intelligence Branch for engaging in masiao.

Last Thursday Lim was shot by one of two motorcycle-riding-gunmen while he was headed to City on board his BMW vehicle.

Lim managed to contact his wife Viola for help as he reached General Maxilom Avenue despite his wounds.

A search of Lim’s car yielded two small packs containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.

Lim’s lawyer Noel Archival claimed that the search was illegal because the police had no search warrant.

Archival also said he wasn’t present during the search. But Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., Cebu City police chief, said the search was legal since Lim’s vehicle was at a crime scene.

Naut-el said there were several witnesses during the search including reporters who covered the incident.

“The car is in the crime scene, the police has the right to search everything”, Natu-el said.

Lim remains in critical condition at Chong Hua hospital due to two gunshot wounds on his cheek and his stomach.

His BMW car sustained two bullet holes at the right back portion near the window.

A fighting cock placed inside a native bag was found in the back seat.

Also recovered from the vehicle were P35,000 cash, ATM cards, a vehicle registration certificate and 21 pieces of rolled papers.

Lim’s wife Viola said her husband is into the “networking” business but declined to elaborate. Correspondents Chito Aragon and Tweeny M. Malinao