Peter Lim’s camp saddened over issuance of arrest order

CEBU CITY—The camp of Cebu businessman Peter Lim has expressed dismay over the decision of a Makati City judge to order his arrest.

Dioscoro “Jun” Fuentes, the spokesperson of Lim, said he did not see the recent development coming.

“All along, I was thinking that the first dismissal of this case will be sustained by the prosecutors because there was already a pronouncement (that there were no sufficient evidence against him),” he told the Cebu Daily News.

“And here comes his indictment and order of arrest. I don’t think there’s something we can do about that,” he added.

Asked whether it is best for Lim to surrender to authorities, Fuentes refused to make a categorical answer.

“He’s my boss. Whatever his decision is, then that’s it,” he said.

Fuentes said he has lost contact with Lim for about a month now.

The last time Fuentes and Lim communicated was when the latter decided to seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) after the showroom of his truck dealership firm Hilton Motors Corp. in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City was bombed last July 5.

The explosion was the second attack in a week on an establishment owned by the controversial businessman. Four months ago, unidentified men strafed the vehicle of Lim’s younger brother, Wellington, in Cebu City.

Wellington, however, was unscathed when the assailants fired at his bullet-proof car.

Fuentes said he believed that Lim is still in Cebu.

“I have not seen him or even talk to him though phone in a month now. But I think he’s still here. I don’t think he left the country,” he said.

Fuentes expressed hopes that Lim will be eventually exonerated of the drug charges filed against him.

“May the truth come out. That’s why the court is there to determine the truth,” he said.

“We’re sad with what’s happening now. I think it’s a natural feeling. Not only him or me who is sad. Anybody who experiences what we go through now would share the same emotion,” he added.