DOJ asks Makati Court to issue hold departure order vs. Peter Lim

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday has asked the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to issue a hold departure order (HDO) against Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim, who was recently charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Lim is facing a case for violation of Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II (conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading) of Republic Act No. 9165, a capital offense punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

In an urgent ex-parte motion for the issuance of HDO, a panel of prosecutors urged the Makati RTC Branch 65 to direct the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to issue and HDO against Lim.

The panel is composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutors (SASP) Juan Pedro Navera and Anna Noreen Devanadera and Associate Prosecution Attorney Herbert Calvin Abugan.

The prosecutors said Lim frequently travels abroad and has the resources to seek refuge in another country.

“He is still at-large, since there is no warrant of arrest issued against him as of this writing. He is clearly a flight risk given vast resources,” the prosecutors said in justifying their plea for an HDO.

“Thus, in order to frustrate the ends of justice, as when accused Lim flees to another country in order to escape Philippine criminal jurisdiction, it is imperative that a hold departure order (HDO) be issued directing the Commission of the Bureau of Immigration to prevent accused Peter Go Lim from leaving the Philippines during the pendency of these cases,” they added.

At present, Lim is at large and the court has yet to issue a warrant of arrest against him.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the BI has received information that Lim has returned to the country after a trip abroad.

“Per BI records, he left for a short trip abroad last March but returned after a few days. So Peter Go Lim is supposed to be in the country,” Guevarra said in text message sent to reporters on Saturday.

Lim is facing charges for violating Section 5 Article 2 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or the illegal drug trade along with self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, Epinosa’s arrested associate Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindangan.

Espinosa, Adorco, and Malindangan are also facing two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade before the Manila RTC and Makati RTC along with convicted drug lord Peter Co and alleged drug supplier Lovely Impal.   /vvp