Trader who survived slay try faces drug charges

A businessman who survived an ambush in Cebu City is facing illegal drug charges after it was confirmed that the two packs containing white crystalline substance found in his bullet-riddled car were shabu.

The two packs found in Edgar Lim’s BMW vehicle were examined by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory.

The City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (CAIDSOFT) will file charges against Lim anytime soon, Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said.

Lim, 49, was driving his car at the South Road Properties when he was waylaid by motorcycle-riding gunmen last March 14.

Although wounded in the cheek and abdomen, Lim continued driving and managed to contact his wife when he reached General Maxilum Avenue.

Lim is recuperating in a private hospital in Cebu City.

Responding police checked Lim’s vehicle and found the two packs of shabu and other items.

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

Archival said he was also not around during the search.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., Cebu City police chief, said the search was legal since Lim’s vehicle was at a crime scene and there were also several witnesses during the search.

Santander said investigators are having a hard time identifying the assailants since Lim’s family has been uncooperative in the investigation.

Operatives of the CIB went to the hospital where Lim is confined but he refused to talk to the investigators, Santander said.

Rivalry between operators of “masiao” and “swertres,” two popular and illegal numbers games in the province of Cebu and other parts of the Visayas, is the likely motive of the attack, police said.

Lim and 25 other persons were arrested last month after they were allegedly caught tallying results of an illegal numbers game in an anti-illegal gambling raid, police said.