Cebu road rage shooting suspect a nephew of Peter Lim —Osmeña

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña on Monday identified the suspect behind the shooting of a nurse following a road altercation as a nephew of suspected drug lord Peter Lim.

A report by GMA News' Chino Gaston quoted Osmeña saying David Lim Jr. is related to the elder Lim, who was earlier tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as drug lord alias Jaguar of Visayas. Duterte later had a face-to-face meeting with the elder Lim, who denied involvement in the drug trade.

Self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa later identified Peter Lim as a top drug supplier.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go announced that Lim will surrender to authorities on Tuesday after receiving a message from the mother of the suspect. 

"Sir Bong, the family decided to follow your advise [sic] to surrender my son David Lim Jr to the regional commander Chief Superintendent Noli Talino tomorrow... Pls help us facilitate his surrender n safety," the message read.

Go clarified to reporters that he did not know the family of the suspect, saying he just got in touch with Mrs. Lim through a certain Peter Go, a Davao-based Cebuano.

"No. Wala ko kaila. Nagduol lang kay Peter Go (Davao-based Cebuano) si Mrs. Lim. Then ako gi-convince to surrender," he said.

[No. I don't know them. Mrs. Lim reached out to Peter Go (Davao-based Cebuano). Then, I convinced her to surrender her son.]

Caught on video

The younger Lim was caught in a dashcam video with the victim, Ephraim Nuñal, arguing along F. Gonzales Street in Barangay Kamputhaw around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

Lim was also accompanied by a female companion, who was identified as Tamae Takahashi.

Lim later pulled out his firearm and shot Nuñal four times after he attempted to come closer to the suspect.

He quickly fled the scene together with Takahashi while Nuñal sustained gunshot wounds on the feet and legs.

Nuñal remains at the hospital, the report said.

Osmeña said Lim did not need to draw his firearm since his life was not threatened by Nuñal.

"His life was not threatened. There’s no excuse to pull out a gun and shoot a guy. Do something in self defense? There’s no sign of self defense here," Osmeña said.

"I want to send a message to all the spoiled brats here in Cebu, you are nothing special," Osmeña added.

The Cebu City mayor joined the manhunt operations against Lim and has submitted the name Lim under the travel watchlist of the Bureau of Immigration.

The Cebu City PNP went to the condominium unit and home of Lim but he was not found.

Meanwhile, Cebu City PNP director Sr. Supt. Joel Doria said Lim is considered as armed and dangerous.

"May baril siyang ginamit e, so he is considered as armed and dangerous. Ininform na rin natin yung ating regional operations center para maidisseminate na rin sa other city police offices," Doria said.

Cebu City PNP Investigation And Detective Management Division chief Supt. Ryan Devaras said they are also looking into the accountability of Takahashi in the crime.

"Kasama siya dun sa pangyayari. Supposedly puwede niyang pigilan yung si David Lim na eventually sumakay din sya at umalis. Pinabayaan niya yung victim. Sana dinala niya sana yung victim sa ospital," Devaras said.

GMA News tried to reach Lim through his counsel, Atty. Pedro Leslie Slva, but they refused to issue a statement. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/JST, GMA News