MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday it is only a matter of time before law enforcers catch up with fugitive alleged drug lord Peter Lim.
More than a month after an arrest warrant was issued against Lim, Guevarra said there is still no taker of the PHP500,000 reward offered for information that would lead to Lim’s capture.
“I’m not dismayed. He can’t go on hiding forever. Lilitaw at mahuhuli rin yan (He will eventually surface and he will be captured),” the justice chief said in a message to reporters.
“Either magaling magtago or takot ang mga tao sa kanya (It’s either Lim is good at hiding or people are just afraid of him),” he added.
Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 65 Presiding Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos issued an arrest warrant against Lim last Aug. 14 and a hold departure order (HDO) on August 17.
The DOJ filed two counts of the non-bailable offense of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade in violation of Section 26(b) in relation to Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against Lim.
Named as Lim’s co-accused are self-confessed drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa, Espinosa’s associate Marcelo Adroco, and Ruel Malindangan.
Espinosa and Adorco are under custody while Malindangan, who has also a standing arrest warrant, remains at large.
Last July 25, state prosecutors also filed drug raps against Espinosa, Adorco, and Malindagan, arrested alleged drug supplier Lovely Impal, and convicted drug lord Peter Co after the DOJ found probable cause to indict them based on the complaint of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The DOJ also said similar charges have been filed against them before the Manila court. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
