Duterte to Peter Lim: If I see you in PH, you’re dead

FILE: Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim, whose name was among those mentioned by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as a drug lord operating in the country presents himself to the President at the PDEA Region XI office in Davao City on July 15. Lim agreed to submit himself to investigation by the NBI, to prove his claim that he is not the same ‘Peter Lim’ identified by the President. Rene Lumawag/PPD

MANILA – Rodrigo R. Duterte warned Peter Lim anew from being caught noting that the fugitive and alleged drug lord would not be able to make it out alive.

“Ikaw Peter Lim ka, ‘wag ka talagang magpakita dito sa police, military o ako kasi ‘pag nakita kita, papatayin kita (You, Peter Lim, don’t show yourself to police, military or me because when I see you, I’ll kill you),” Duterte said during the 1st National Assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilpinas in Pasay City on Monday night.

“Wala akong pakialam. Punta ka doon sa China, balik ka. Bahala ka. Pero ‘pag nakita kita dito sa Pilipinas, you’re dead (I don’t care. Go to China, return. It’s up to you. But if I see you in the Philippines, you’re dead),” he added.

Duterte recalled a time when he was still the mayor of Davao City and Lim wanted to speak to him to “explain” and deny his alleged links to illegal drugs.

“Di ba nag-usap kami, bago pa akong Presidente. Nakipagkita siya sa akin kasi gusto niyang mag-explain. Sabi niya, ‘Mayor, hindi ko magawa. May mga anak ako (We were able to speak before I became President. He met me because he wanted to explain. He said, ‘Mayor, I can’t do it. I have kids’),” Duterte said.

The President said that because Lim didn’t have a case filed against him or arrest warrant yet, he just listened to his explanation.

However, Duterte said that had there been a case or arrest warrant, he might have done things differently.

“Eh wala pa kasing kaso noon na may warrant eh. Kaya kung noon ‘yung panahon na ‘yon may warrant na siya, pagkatapos ng interview barilin ko na siya doon sa hagdanan (That time he didn’t have any case or warrant. If there was already a warrant against him, after the interview, I’d shoot him by the stairs),” Duterte said.

Last Wednesday, Duterte called on the Cebu-based businessman to just commit suicide rather than surrender to the authorities.

“I am warning yung mga nasa Visayas. Peter Lim, if I were you, I would commit suicide, never ever surrender to me alive, you will commit suicide. I-abbreviate mo na, ikaw pa magtali sa leeg mo (just tie a rope around your neck),” Duterte said in his speech during the signing of Universal Health Care law.

Lim is currently facing an arrest warrant for two counts of the non-bailable offense of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade, along with self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) tagged Lim as the source of “shabu” being sold by the Espinosa group.

Meanwhile, Dutete warned drug addicts from loitering in public places.

“Kayong mga drug addicts, ‘wag kayong mag-istambay diyan sa mga daan. Kasi para sa publiko ‘yan na sumusunod sa batas. Ngayon kung kriminal ka, wala kang karapatan (You, drug addicts. Don’t loiter there in the streets. Because those are for law-abiding citizens only. Now, if you’re a criminal, you have no right),” Duterte said.