MANILA, Philippines — A Makati court on Friday issued a hold departure order against Peter Lim, a Cebu-based businessman facing drug charges.
Acting Presiding Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65 issued the travel ban upon the request of prosecutors.
“Finding the grounds relied upon by the prosecution to be impressed with merit, the Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for the Issuance of Hold Departure Order against Peter Go Lim is granted,” the order reads.
The HDO orders the Bureau of Immigration to keep Lim from leaving the country and will remain in effect unless cancelled by the court.
Palamos on August 14 issued a warrant of arrest against Lim, who remains at large.
Last week, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Lim is “supposed to be in the country.” He said that according to Immigration records, Lim “left for a short trip abroad last March but returned after a few days.”
Authorities tracking Lim down
In a press conference on Friday, Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, said that the police have deployed tracker teams to hunt down Lim.
Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin, spokesperson of the National Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile said that the burea's regional directors have been told to assist in locating Lim.
Lim is facing two counts of violations of Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The trial is set to start on August 28.