Peter Lim supplied drugs to Kerwin Espinosa, CIDG’s complaint says

Kerwin Espinosa. FILE PHOTO

Wealthy Cebu businessman Peter Lim, President Duterte’s kumpare (wedding cosponsor), had supplied narcotics in “staggering amounts” to suspected drug kingpin Kerwin Espinosa for more than two years.

One such transaction involved the delivery of 50 kilos of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) which Lim handed to Espinosa at the parking of Cash & Carry supermarket in Makati City on June 7, 2015.

The pair had a successful business partnership which allowed them to control the narcotics trade in Central and Eastern Visayas provinces.

At one point, they even flew to Thailand to discuss the terms of a drug shipment.

These were some of the allegations contained in the complaint for drug trafficking filed by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) against Lim, Espinosa and several others, most of them known only by their aliases.

The filing of the case prompted Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to place them on immigration watchlist on July 11 to prevent Lim and his co-accused from leaving the country to evade prosecution.

The DOJ had already subpoenaed them to attend the preliminary investigation set on Aug. 14 and 17.

Besides Lim and Espinosa, identified as respondents in the case were convicted drug lord Peter Co, alleged drug supplier Lovely Adam Impal, Marcelo Adorco, Max Miro, Ruel Malindangan and Jun Pepito.

LOOK: PNP-CIDG’s complaint vs Peter Lim, Espinosa, several others

In its July 5 complaint, a copy of which was released to the media only on Wednesday, the CIDG’s Major Crimes Investigation Unit informed Aguirre that Lim and the others should be charged for violation of Section 26(b) in relation to Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2000.

The offense involved conspiracy to commit “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals.”

“(Their) criminal conspiracy was continuously existing (and appears to have been consummated) in various places of Makati City to Regions 7 and 8 from February 2013 up to August 2015 at the very least,” read a portion of the complaint.

“(This) investigation clearly shows that conspiracy to sell, deliver, transport, trade and distribute shabu… existed between and among the respondents,” it added.

The CIDG secured a lead in its investigation with the arrest of Adorco and four other drug personalities during a sting operation in Albuera, Leyte, on July 8, 2016.

The police unit said Adorco identified Espinosa, who was supposedly also known as “Boss K,” and his father, slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., as the source of the illegal drugs and firearms seized from them.

It said the “Espinosa Group” was then getting its supplies of illicit drugs from Co, Impal and Lim for distribution in the provinces of Bohol, Samar, Northern Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran and Cebu.

Citing his judicial affidavit, the CIDG said Adorco “clearly stated” that Espinosa received 20 kilos of shabu from Co on Feb. 5, 2013, and a similar amount of illegal drugs from Lim just 11 days later.

Interestingly, Co was then already serving time at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

“Four other similar drug transactions happened also in 2014 with Peter Lim as their shabu supplier. All shabu deliveries as transacted, and pursuant to their drug conspiracy, happened in Cash & Carry (in) Makati City,” the CIDG said.

On June 4, 2015, it said Lim met with Espinosa and Adorco in Thailand regarding the delivery of 50 kilos powdered meth at the Cash & Carry parking lot three days later.

“The Peter Lim who had supplied them staggering amounts of shabu is the same Peter Go Lim, a businessman from Cebu City, who was named by, and later surrendered to, President Duterte in July 2016,” the CIDG said.

“Indeed, there was widespread illegal drug trade in Regions 7 and 8 during the years of their existing conspiracy prompting no less than the President… to announce those involved in the illegal drug trade,” it added.

Records from the Bureau of Immigration showed that Adorco was in Thailand at the time of the supposed meeting, according to the CIDG.

“Verily, Adorco appears to be a close confidant of… Espinosa… Thus, Adorco’s knowledge and firsthand information on their drug operations… cannot be over emphasized,” the CIDG maintained. JE