Makati court orders arrest of Peter Lim

A Makati court has ordered the arrest of businessman Peter Go Lim so he can be held for trial for allegedly conspiring to commit illegal drug trading with other supposed drug personalities.

Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos of the Makati Regional Trial Court's Branch 65 ruled Tuesday that the court has determined there is probable cause to hold Lim, self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa, and their other co-accused for trial.

"After a careful evaluation of the Information and the supporting evidence, the Court finds it has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Information and that probable cause exists to hold accused Peter Go Lim, Rolan E. Espinosa a.k.a. 'Kerwin,' Marcelo L. Adorco and Ruel S. Malindangan for trial," Palamos' order said.

Believed by the government to reside in Mabolo, Cebu City, Lim faces an arrest warrant in connection with two counts of violation of the drug trade conspiracy provision of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The court issued against a similar arrest warrant against Malindangan, who resides in Albuera, Leyte.

Espinosa and Adorco are in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, respectively.

Their arraignment was set for August 28 at 1:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the same court set for hearing on August 17 the motion filed by the Department of Justice seeking that Lim, whom they consider a "flight risk," be barred from leaving the country.

State prosecutors have filed a motion for the issuance of a Hold Departure Order against Lim, whom they separately investigated and indicted, claiming he has a history of frequent travel and the resources to seek refuge abroad.

The accused are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade in Regions 7 and 8. Their present indictment is a result of new evidence filed by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group during the re-investigation ordered by then-Justice chief Vitaliano Aguirre II.

They have previously evaded a court case when an earlier prosecution panel dismissed the complaint against them for insufficiency of evidence, leading to public and official criticism. —KBK/BM, GMA News