The camp of Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim on Monday denied his alleged involvement in illegal drug trade, insisting in his defense that he is a victim of mistaken identity.
Lim did not show up during the start of the Department of Justice’s preliminary investigation on the drug charges against him and several others tagged by the Philippine National Police in the illegal drug trade in Central Visayas.
However, he sent his lawyers to receive the complaint and supporting documents filed by PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The DoJ panel of prosecutors composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes and John Michael Humarang gave Lim until August 24 to file his answer and personally submit his counter-affidavit.
Lim is facing charges of sale, administration, dispensation, trading, delivery and transportation of illegal drugs under Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
While he has yet to file his counter-affidavit, his lawyers led by Majilyn Loja already denied the charges and reiterated his earlier defense of mistaken identity.
“He is not that person. He has always denied it. In fact, he presented himself [before the National Bureau of Investigation earlier], saying that he is not the alias Jaguar,” Loja said, in an interview after the hearing.
“He will be here to face the charges against him,” Loja said.
Lim surrendered to President Duterte last year after his name was mentioned as among those behind the narcotics trade in the country and denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa also appeared before the DoJ as one of the respondents in the complaint.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier revealed that Espinosa may turn state witness in the drug charges against Lim.
The DoJ chief said Espinosa may opt to submit an affidavit detailing the participation of Lim in the illegal drug trade and get immunity from prosecution.
“The inclusion of Kerwin Espinosa in the criminal case, in the drug offense, can be discharged before the actual trial or even during trial of the case,” he said.
Espinosa had earlier named Lim as the top supplier in Central Visayas during a Senate inquiry on illegal drug trade last year.
But Aguirre said that the eligibility of Espinosa would depend on the assessment of investigating prosecutors – especially since the law requires that a state witness should not be the most guilty of the crime charged and that his or her testimony is necessary for the successful prosecution of the case in court.
“The panel (of prosecutors) should assess the statements and evidence first. I would not want to make a definite decision on this yet because I might be the one to be called to make the final judgment,” he pointed out.
Apart from Lim and Espinosa, also facing drug charges are inmates Peter Co, Marcelo Adorco, Max Miro, Lovely Adam Impal, Ruel Malindangan and Jun Pepito.
The other respondents were also required to answer the charges and file counter-affidavits in the next hearings on August 17 and 24.
Espinosa, a confessed drug dealer and son of slain drug alleged drug lord and Mayor Rolando Espinosa, is currently under government’s witness protection program after he testified in the drug charges against detained Sen. Leila de Lima.
Co, on the other hand, is a high-profile inmate in the New Bilibid Prison recently transferred back to the maximum-security compound.
Impal was arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency last January.
The PNP complaint tagged Lim as the alleged supplier of illegal drugs to the group of Espinosa.
It identified Co and Impal as among those who supplied illegal drugs to Espinosa’s operation in Central and Eastern Visayas.
The DOJ has already issued earlier a lookout bulletin order (LBO) against Lim and the other respondents.