MANILA – Cebu businessman Peter Lim and three others were ordered arrested for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 65 in Makati City ordered on Tuesday the arrest of Lim, self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindagan.
The four were accused of violating Section 26 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“After a careful evaluation of the information and the supporting evidence the Court finds that it has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the information and that probable cause exists to hold accused for trial,” read part of the arrest warrant issued by Acting Presiding Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos. Arraignment was scheduled on Aug. 28.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed the charges against the four before the Department of Justice.
A Justice department panel earlier dismissed the charges against the four for “lack of evidence” but a new panel reversed this decision.
On July 20 the Justice department charged Espinosa, Adorco, Malindagan, Peter Co, and Lovely Impal before the Makati City court after finding probable cause.
Its panel filed a separate complaint against Lim before the Makati City court even though Lim’s petition to halt the reinvestigation of the charges was still pending at the Supreme Court./PN
