MALACAÑANG on Sunday defended the meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Cebu businessman Peter Lim, who is allegedly part of a triad that controls the illegal drugs trade in the country.
Asked why Lim was able to walk away from his meeting with the President, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on state-run radio dzRB: “The alleged suspect, drug lord suspect, Peter Lim has already expressed his intentions to clear his name, let’s leave it at that.”
Duterte met with Lim in Davao City despite issuing an earlier threat that the businessman would be executed once he sets foot in the country.
Initial information received by the Palace said that Lim was out of the country.
But during Friday’s meeting, Duterte threatened to have Lim killed if the government would find any evidence that would link the businessman to illegal drugs.
“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.
The President, however, gave Lim a chance to prove his innocence.
“I will advise you strongly to submit to an investigation, in my term…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,” Duterte said in Cebuano.
Andanar said that the burden of proving Lim’s innocence was now on the Cebu businessman.
“He cleared his name and he has expressed his intention to the President that he will do just that. Now, the burden now is on Peter Lim and we do encourage the rest of the suspects to do the same,” the Palace official said.
According to the Bureau of Immigration’s database, there are almost 4,000 people named Peter Lim.
Lim has vehemently denied that he is a drug lord./rga