Supt. Lito Patay to arrest Peter Lim

SAVING HIMSELFBusinessman Peter Lim, tagged as a drug lord at a Senate hearing and by President Duterte, meets with the President in July 2016 to try to clear his name. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO

CEBU CITY — Supt. Lito Patay, new head of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Central Visayas, said his unit was ready to arrest controversial businessman Peter Lim but it would not be easy.

Patay, whose surname is Filipino for death, said he would seek help in arresting Lim.

“I hope we get the necessary help to find him to make it exciting,” said Patay.

‘Is he here?’

The champion marksman made the Batasan Police Station in Quezon City as the deadliest station when he was its commander in 2016.

Patay assumed his post as Central Visayas CIDG head on Aug. 6, five days before Lim was indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for involvement in drugs.

On his first day as CIDG Central Visayas chief, Patay said “Who is Peter Lim? Is he here?” before giving a huge smile.

Patay said he needed more operatives to help him but he did not say if his so-called “Davao Boys” would join him here.

The Davao Boys, a group of 10 policemen, joined Patay at his Quezon City police station assignment in 2016.

Supt. Reyman Tolentin, spokesperson for the Central Visayas police, said there was no order yet to arrest Lim, though.

But he said as soon as a warrant for Lim’s arrest was issued, police were ready to enforce it.

Won’t give up

Lim’s spokesperson, Dioscoro “Jun” Fuentes, said Lim was not about to give up as his legal team in Manila was exhausting all legal means to reverse the DOJ indictment.

“I understand that our law enforcers are ready to serve the warrant of arrest when it comes. That is their duty, and we could not do anything about it,” he said.

A truck displayed at Peter Lim’s showroom in Mandaue City is damaged by a blast last month.

Fuentes, however, said he hoped law enforcers would not violate the law.

“Everybody is praying for fairness. Just days ago, the police said they ought to be trusted. And I personally believe so,” Fuentes said.

‘Very much in Cebu’

Asked if Lim would voluntarily yield to authorities, Fuentes said “I would not know. We haven’t discussed that yet.”

Fuentes, however, gave an assurance that Lim is “very much in Cebu.”

The DOJ on Friday found sufficient evidence to indict Lim on charges of “conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade.”

Lim will be facing trial at the Regional Trial Court in Makati City, which may issue an arrest warrant soon unless Lim can secure an order to reverse the DOJ ruling.

The offense is nonbailable

In a resolution, the DOJ panel of prosecutors recommended the filing of charges against Lim for violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, for “selling, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation” of drugs.

Espinosa claim

The DOJ used as a basis the testimony of confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa at the Senate where Lim was mentioned as a drug supplier.

Last month, the DOJ also indicted Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco and other suspected drug traders Lovely Impal and Ruel Malindangan for a similar offense in a separate case.