TINGOG.COM THE VOICE OF A FILIPINO: PROVEN WRONG, ALFREDO LIM’S SON OUT OF JAIL

I’m not above saying that I am wrong. And in the case of Alfredo Lim’s son, Manuel Lim, and his “alleged” involvement in a drug buy-bust operation, in which he “sold drugs”, I had first thought that Alfredo Lim’s “hands off” approach was a noteworthy sign that Alfredo Lim stood by his principles. Until that is, a few days ago, when his son was able to post bail, in the amount of P400,000. In which, in normal circumstances, it is impossible to post such a bail. And after a few blunt remarks from readers, I had to address this story.

Many of men, have been put behind bars for life, for much lesser circumstances, and yet, Lim’s son, Manuel Lim, a “known” drug user, who in a drug bust, went inside a car where money was exchanged, drugs were exchanged, is now out on bail. Such a serious crime, deserves no bail, especially when drugs plays such a devastating role in our society. I know first hand, what drugs can do to an entire community, when the result is murder, and the death of an innocent individual.

Atty. Bagatsing: Did you personally see the transaction inside the car?

Arresting Officer: No Sir. I only have knowledge that they have boarded.

Are they kidding us? What the hell do they expect us to think they did in the car? Give each other blowjobs?

And according to Atty. Bagatsing, because the backside of Manuel’s hands also had fluorescent powder from the marked money, that it can’t be possible for Manuel to have handled the money. What he doesn’t mention that both sides had the powder! I don’t know about this Attorney, but trust me, when you handle money, powder will eventually get on everything, and just touching your hands together is enough to have the powder spread.

And yes, of course, there is no evidence that Alfredo Lim had any involvement in the release of his son, and Lim is denying that he had a hand in it as well. But let’s be honest people, let’s really step back and decipher it for ourselves. When the father is as powerful as Alfredo Lim, and in a case like this, can we really believe Alfredo Lim?

But, this is besides the point, according to the Dangerous Drugs Act, anyone caught with more than 50 grams of shabu cannot post bail. Manuel had around 100 grams of Shabu.

I may have been wrong before, because maybe of my need to see the good in Alfredo Lim, but maybe I was too quick to commit such an act of faith. Shame on me I guess. I bet every damn drug dealer, pusher, and user, wishes they had Alfredo Lim as their father.

Such a despicable act of hypocrisy. And we wonder why, drugs, murder, and corruption still pervades our country. And why Mayor’s talk tough when it comes to drugs only to garner pogi points for elections. Manuel Lim, let’s get this guy off the streets! Alfredo Lim, let’s get this guy out of government!

http://www.tingog.com/politics/proven-wrong-alfredo-lims-son-out-of-jail.html

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s Son Tests Positive for Shabu

THE LAW APPLIES TO ALL………..EXCEPT TO ME AND MY FAMILY

DRUG CASE NI MANNY LIM
by Raymond Burgos

Marami ang nagtataka kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa drug case sa anak ni Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim na si Manuel “Manny” Lim na nahuli ng mga ahente ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency noong Agosto 2008.

Malaking volume ng shabu ang nakuha kay Manny Lim at dalawa pa nitong kasamahan matapos isailalim sa matinding surveillance na nagresulta sa isang buy-bust operation na pinangunahan din ni Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino na siya ring humuli sa “Alabang Boys.”

Sa kabila ng matibay na ebidensiya na hawak ng PDEA laban kay Manny Lim ay natalo sila sa husgado at nagkaroon ng provisional dismissal ang drug case noong Setyembre 2008 ayon na rin sa naging desisyon ni Judge Vargas ng Branch 13 ng Manila Regional Trial Court.

Pero ang nakakapagtaka ay kung bakit hindi naghain ng motion to review or motion to revive the case ang PDEA gayung temporary lang namang ang naging dismissal sa kaso ni Manny Lim at “without prejudice to revive the case.”

Kung matatandaan, mismong si Mayor Lim ay nagsabing hindi siya makikialam sa kaso ng kanyang anak dahil na rin sa kanyang prinsipyo na “the law applies to all, otherwise none at all.” Sinabi rin ni Lim sa kanyang anak na si Manny na “buntot niya, hila niya.”

Ang hindi alam ng marami ay si Mayor Lim din ang nagbigay ng abugado sa kanyang anak sa katauhan ni Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing at sa tulong na rin ng mga taga-City Hall ay nakakuha siya ng provisional dismissal na nagresulta sa paglaya ni Manny Lim.

Si Bagatsing na rin ang nagsasabi na may nakausap ito sa PDEA kung kaya hindi na ito nag-file ng motion to revive the case at dahil nga dito ay dali-daling nakaalis papuntang Estados Unidos si Manny sa tulong na rin ng kanyang ama.

Bilib tayo kay Maj. Marcelino at lalu na sa kanyang hepe na si Undersecretary Dionisio Santiago pero mukhang hindi lahat ng taga-PDEA ay diretso kung mag-isip at may mangilan-ngilang naliligaw ng landas lalu na kapag mala­laking tao ang nasasangkot sa iligal na droga.

Dapat sigurong tanungin ni Gen. Santiago ang kanyang legal division kung bakit walang motion to review na inihain ang mga abugado ng PDEA gayung mabigat ang mga ebidensiyang hawak nila kay Manny Lim.

Kung nagkataon na kasing tindi ng paghawak sa kaso ng Alabang Boys ang ginawa nilang paghawak sa kaso ni Manny Lim ‘di sin sana’y nakakulong pa rin ang anak ng alkalde ng Maynila at hindi nakatakbo sa US kung saan siya kasalukuyang nagpapalamig.

Kung tutuusin nga, mas matibay ang ebidensiyang hawak ng PDEA laban kay Manny Lim kumpara sa “Alabang Boys” pero hindi nagpursige ang mga abugado ng PDEA para ma-convict ang anak ni Mayor Lim at nang magkaroon ng provisional dismissal ay wala ring ginawa rito ang naturang ahensya.

Balewala kasi ang mga nahuhuling drug dealer kung walang kinahihinatnan ang kanilang mga kaso dahil ang sukatan ng tagumpay laban sa iligal na droga ay kung gaano karaming drug lord ang nasesentensyahan dahil ito ang batayan kung gaano kahusay ang trabaho ng PDEA at iba pang law enforcers.

Lumilitaw na pagkatapos maiprisinta sa press confe­rence ang mga huling drug dealer at makakuha ng promotion at papuri ang mga operatiba ay hindi na binibigyan ng pansin ang kaso sa husgado kaya nga maraming beses ay nagkakaroon ng dismissal ang mga kaso dahil hindi uma-attend ng court hearing ang mga arresting officers at mga opisyal ng Crime Laboratory.

Madaling manghuli ng drug dealer pero ang mas mahirap na parte ay ang pagtitiyak na magkakaroon ng conviction ang mga akusado at sa aspetong ito dapat magdiin si Gng. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ngayong siya ang tumatayong anti-drug czarina.

Maging halimbawa sana ang kinahinatnan ng drug case ni Manny Lim para hindi na ito maulit at mangyayari lang ito kung gagawin ng PDEA ang kanyang trabaho na mag-file ng motion to revive the case.

Kapag nangyari iyon ay dapat ding gawin ng Department of Justice ang kanyang parte at ito ay ang pagtrabaho sa extradition ni Manny Lim mula sa Estados Unidos.

THE PRECEDING COLUMN WAS TAKEN FROM THE JANUARY 16, 2009 ISSUE OF ABANTE TONITE

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CLIP WAS TAKEN FROM THE GMA NEWS WEBSITE

Lim on son’s arrest: ‘Let ax fall where it may’
03/15/2008 | 04:50 PM GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – A son of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim was arrested in a drug sting operation in Manila’s downtown Sta. Cruz district Saturday.

In a report, radio dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag quoted Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director Dionisio Santiago as saying that operatives had arrested Manny Santos Lim, 44, and two companions during the operation at the Pharaoh Hotel in Sta. Cruz.

Seized from Lim and his two still-unnamed companions were 100 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride crystals (shabu) worth P600,000.

The report said PDEA was to bring Lim and his companions to the Department of Justice for inquest proceedings.

Lim confirms son arrest

The mayor confirmed to reporters in a phone interview that Manny Lim is his son.

“If he violated the law, let the ax fall where it may,” said Lim. “The law applies to all.”

Mayor Lim said that he has yet to receive any formal report on the arrest of his son.

PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago, however, said he had phoned Lim to report the anti-drug operation that led to the arrest of the mayor’s son.

Lim said he even congratulated Dionisio and his men for the successful operation.

The mayor admitted that he and his son, a businessman, have not been in speaking terms for several months.

“I will not lift a finger to help him,” he said. He explained that he only helps people who are victims of cruelty.

He said that he did not know his son was involved in the illegal drug trade. But he revealed that his son had a family problem. – GMANews.TV