DOJ: Ready to defend reopening of Peter Lim case before SC

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is ready to defend its actions before the Supreme Court regarding the reinvestigation of the drug case against Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim.

Lim went to the Supreme Court (SC) asking that it nullify the order of then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to reinvestigate the case after it was dismissed by a DOJ panel of prosecutors.

In his petition, Lim told the High Court that his rights to life and liberty as well as to due process of law and speedy disposition of cases have been violated.

While his petition is pending, Lim urged the Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the DOJ’s ongoing investigation.

“We were informed that his lawyers had filed a petition for certiorari citing grave abuse of discretion,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message Thursday.

“The DOJ welcomes the filing of the petition and we are ready to defend our actions,” he adding that “I trust in the good sense of the SC.”   /muf