DoJ formally accuses Peter Lim of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) on Friday reversed its earlier ruling that cleared businessman Peter Go Lim of drug-related charges, formally accusing him with “conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.”
In a press statement on Friday, the department reported that the prosecution panel found that “the legislative investigation of the Senate Committees on Justice and Public Order, together with Marcelo Adorco’s positive identification of Peter Go Lim as one of the Kerwin’s suppliers of dangerous drugs, is sufficient to establish probable cause to charge them with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.”
Earlier this year, DoJ initially cleared the drug charges against Mr. Lim due to lack of evidence before former Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre ordered a reinvestigation.
The panel that found probable cause against Go is composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro C. Navera, Anna Noreen T. Devanadera, and Prosecution Attorney Herbert Calvin D. Abugan.
The DoJ said that the prosecution panel “reiterates that conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading is a distinct offense under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”
Agreement to do drug trading is the “gravamen” (most serious part) of the offense, the panel added.
Last month, the same panel “also found probable cause to charge” Mr. Espinosa and Mr. Adorco for violating Section 26 (b) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002. Also involved were Peter Co, Lovely A. Impal and Ruel S. Malindagan.
Mr. Lim’s case was investigated separately after filing a motion for a separate preliminary investigation also last month. — Gillian M. Cortez