President President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Cebuano-Chinese businessman Peter Lim in Davao City. Lim is reportedly behind the illegal drug trade in the Visayas. SCREENGRAB FROM MALACAÑANG VIDEO
President Rodrigo Duterte met on Friday night with Cebuano-Chinese businessman Peter Lim in Davao City.
Lim was one of the high-profile drug lords named by Duterte, who was reportedly behind the illegal drugs trade in the Visayas.
In a video released by Malacañang, Duterte “strongly” advised Lim to submit himself to an investigation to prove that he is not the “Peter Lim” identified as the Visayan member of the drug triad.
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“I will advise you strongly to submit to an investigation, in my term. You go to…For now you are not guilty, but if I find out that you are, I will have you finished. You better go to the investigating agency, the NBI,” he said in Bisaya.
He advised Lim to bring a lawyer with him and inform NBI that he was willing to be investigated.
“If you have the time, you have to bring a lawyer. Bring a lawyer, tell the NBI that you are coming,” he said.
Duterte warned Lim not to lie to him because he would have him killed.
“I tell you what, I have warned to have you killed. It’s true, I will have you killed. If I see something (that will show that you are involved in drugs), I will have you killed,” he said.
Duterte told Lim that concerned agencies would review his case.
“They will review your case. We will be flatly fair. We are not enemies, we are not friends,” he said.
“We want to help you…help us clear you,” he added.
Lim said he was aware that he was a suspected drug lord.
Duterte asked him if he had been investigated by Congress before, which Lim confirmed.
Duterte went on, saying the government would gather “all the evidence in Congress and look into it.”
“We will get all the evidence in Congress and look into it. If you are not guilty, you open your life. If they have witnesses, ask them to face you. If you want, you confront all the people who accused you. But I will admit now that there are so many Peter Lims,” the President said.
Lim responded saying he was willing to help the government in its fight against illegal drugs and to eventually clear his name.
“I’m with you all the way. I assure that I am not involved, 100 percent, Mr. President,” Lim told Duterte.
“I could clear up everything because my family is really in deep problem now in Cebu…In any way I will help, in all my ways I can,” he added.
Aside from Lim, Duterte earlier named Peter Co and Herbert Colangco as part of the top tier drug lords in the country.
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Co and Colangco are high profile inmates inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Lim, who was reportedly out of the country before, was warned by Duterte that he would die once he returns to the country.
“Somebody should tell him that he is wanted. The moment he lands at Naia, he will die,” Duterte said.
Duterte asked Lim if he was a “regular commuter,” “frequently going in and out of the country.”
“Not really. I go out with my family, my mom, my children usually during Holy Week,” Lim responded.
Lim thanked Duterte for the time and opportunity to explain his side.
“Thank you very much for giving me the time and opportunity to clear myself,” he told the President.
When Lim was ready to leave, Duterte refused to shake his hand.
“I’m sorry I cannot shake your hand,” he told Lim, to which Lim replied, “Yes, I understand.”
Before finally leaving Lim said “Our nation is very lucky to have you. You’re the only president who can save our nation. You really mean business.” CDG
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