Kerwin: Peter Lim who met Duterte was top drug supplier

Self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa on Wednesday tagged Cebu businessman Peter Lim as involved in the illegal narcotics trade.

Espinosa said it was the same Lim who earlier met with President Rodrigo Duterte to deny his involvement in drugs.

At the Senate hearing on the death of his father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Kerwin was asked by Sen. Manny Pacquiao if he knew Lim.

He replied that he knew the businessman "through Jaguar," who Kerwin identified during the hearing as the late drug lord Jeffrey Diaz.

"Nandiyan ako mismo nang nag-usap sila ni Jaguar. Boss at supplier, halos pare-pareho lang 'yan," he said.

He answered in the affirmative when Pacquiao asked if Jaguar got illegal drugs from Lim.

Pacquiao then asked: "Ito ba ung Peter Lim na humarap kay President Duterte?"

Kerwin replied, "Ang sabi ni Jaguar sa akin taga-Cebu ang Peter Lim," adding that the late drug lord also told him Lim owned a heavy equipment company.

"So nakuwento ni Jaguar sa'yo 'yung Peter Lim na ito?" Pacquiao asked. Kerwin said yes.

The senator then noted: "Itong si Peter Lim na may negosyong equipment, humarap kay Presidente at naghuhugas ng kamay, wala daw siyang kinalaman sa iligal na droga."

Lim talked to Duterte in a seemingly cordial meeting in Davao City last July.

Duterte threatened to kill Lim if authorities prove that he was "alias Jaguar," one of the country's top three drug lords.

Lim denied the allegation.

Duterte suggested to Lim during the meeting to bring a lawyer with him and go to the Department of Justice or directly to the National Bureau of Investigations for the investigation. --JST, GMA News