DOJ chief orders NBI to study possible raps vs suspected drug lord Peter Lim

MANILA – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to study the case to be filed against suspected drug lord Peter Lim.

Aguirre said the NBI is now in the process of formulating a case build-up, noting that once this is completed and the NBI has found enough evidence to warrant the filing of the case, they would immediately file it before the Justice department.

"NBI ang nagha-handle nyan, actually maganda na ang case build-up diyan kay Peter Lim. I'm going to the talk to the NBI at kung maganda na, ihain na ang kaso (The NBI is handling the case and has good case build up and it if is done file immediately)," Aguirre said in recent interview.

Last month, Aguirre said the case build-up against Lim is still continuing though he said there is no shoot-to-kill order issued against him by the President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Nagki-case buildup pa sila pero wala namang shoot-to-kill order. Ang sinasabi ni President (Duterte) palagi nya inuulit yan, arestuhin mo, pag nagresist ng arrest at delikado buhay mo. (The case build up is on going and no shoot-t-kill-order. The President continuously saying arrest and if resist and your life is danger) ," he added.

Lim's name was again mentioned in the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice last month after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV showed a picture of President Duterte with Lim when the two were invited as wedding sponsors were ongoing.

Earlier, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director Isidro Lapena said Lim who went to meet Duterte last July after his name was mentioned by the President as among those involved in the illegal drugs trade in the country is indeed the same Lim on their list of drug lords in the country.

Confusion initially greeted the President's announcement then when 4,000 persons with the same name appeared in the data base of the NBI but Lapena said the Cebuano businessman is indeed a drug lord.

In the Senate hearing, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald De La Rosa denied that Duterte is protecting Lim adding that there is an ongoing investigation against the latter ordered by Duterte.

The PNP chief said the information they received from suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa stated that Lim was his supplier of illegal drugs. (PNA)