Blasts rock Peter Lim truck dealership in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — Two explosions rocked the display center of car and truck dealer Hilton Motors Corp., a firm owned by controversial Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim, in Mandaue City at dawn yesterday.

The twin blasts tore off the front bumper of a mini truck on display and damaged some electrical wirings in the establishment located in Barangay Subangdaku.

Senior Supt. Roberto Alanas, director of the Mandaue Police Office, said no one was hurt in the explosions. Security guard Ronilo Libre said the blasts came 15 to 20 seconds apart.

The Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and K9 Group of Police Regional Office-7 are still checking the type of explosives used. Police are also checking CCTV recording in the area. There was no indication that the blasts were a terror attack.

A special investigation task group (SITG) has been formed to investigate the case, according to Alanas.

“We’ve created a SITG so that members of other units can help us like the Cyber Unit, Crime lab, CIDG (Crime Investigation and Detection Group), and others because we want strong information so we can get everything. There must be a whole approach so we can solve this quickly,” Alanas said.

President Duterte earlier linked Lim to the drug trade but the businessman denied this.

A drug case filed by the CIDG against Lim and several others is pending with the Department of Justice. – The Freeman