Did Cebuano businessman Peter Lim and President Duterte know each other prior to their meeting in Davao City on Friday?
Both Lim and Duterte are “kumpares” since they both stood as primary sponsors in a private wedding at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last June 25.
This was confirmed by Lim’s spokesman, Dioscoro Fuentes Jr. during a news conference in Cebu City on July 8 which he called to deny that the businessman was the Peter Lim named by Mr. Duterte as one of the country’s top drug lords.
During the news conference, Fuentes admitted that Mr. Duterte and Lim were “kumpares” as they were among the principal sponsors in the wedding of Yuri Ofek, an Israeli expat who works as a country manager of a business outsourcing company, and Beatrice Borja at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City last June 25.
“If you’ll look at it, my client and our beloved President are kumpares,” he told reporters.
Borja is the only child of businessman Fernando Borja, owner of Adnama Group of Companies, a close friend of Mr. Duterte who supported his presidential campaign, sources said.
His company is into export, mining, real estate, among others.
The businessman hosted a thanksgiving dinner for Mr Duterte on June 8 at the Level 8 Bar in Adnama Building at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.
After Mr. Duterte’s meeting with Lim, photos of the two were circulated online on Sunday, which provoked sharp reactions from netizens.
The Facebook page, Facts Against Ignorance, which posted the photos claimed these were taken during the June 25 wedding.
The post read: “WAG MASYADONG NAGPAPABOLA SA DRAMA NILA (Don’t be fooled by their drama).”
The post also claimed that Lim was given due process by the President since they were compadres and Lim was one of those who provided financial contribution to the President’s campaign kitty.
“Alam ninyo ba kung bakit ang druglord na si Peter Lim ay binibigyan ng due process ni Digong kumpara sa mga maliliit na kriminal na tuluyan ng pinapatay? Dahil si Peter Lim ay isang Kumpare ni PDUTZ (Do you know why D. Isa siya sa mga sumuporta financially sa kandidatura ni PDIGONG.”
“It mins, siya ay tumatanaw ng utang na loob dito dahil sa ginastos nito noong eleksiyon,” the post claimed.
The post ended with a quote of Mr. Duterte’s message to Lim: “We want to help you, help us to clear you.”
The post generated 762 shares and 345 comments as of 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Apoleo Emil Kusay, a Facebook user, called for Duterte’s resignation.
But there were those who defended the President.
One of them was Jag Bacalso Lucero.
“That pic was taken during the wedding of Borja same date during victory party of cebu. C mayor is invited sa wedding and maraming nag pa picture sa kanya during that day so don’t make stories na mka pag mislead ng mga tao ksu during that day presidente na c digong at hindi nya controllado ang mga tao na mag papa pic sa kanya.”/with Doris C. Bongcac and Ador Vincent Mayol