By Perfecto T. Raymundo
MANILA, Nov. 7 (PNA) — The arrest warrant issued against against Reynald Lim, brother of Janet Lim Napoles and co-accused in the case of serious illegal detention filed by whistleblower Benhur Luy, remains valid and effective.
This, after the Supreme Court (SC) First Division dismissed the appeal of Lim assailing the warrant of arrest issued against him by the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150.
The Court of Appeals (CA) earlier denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Lim for lack of merit.
Because of the SC decision, which was made public on Friday, the trial of Lim before the Makati RTC at the sala of Judge Elmo Alameda will also continue.
The SC affirmed the CA decision that Alameda did not hastily issue the warrant of arrest against Lim on Aug. 16, 2014.
The SC said that it was clear that before Alameda issued the arrest order, there was probable cause in the case against Lim such that he studied first the complaint and the documents submitted by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The SC added that the Court had no policy stating that the judge should first call for a hearing before he issues an order in connection with the probable cause of the case and before issuing a warrant of arrest on the same.
Lim was accused of conspiring with Napoles in allegedly illegally detaining Luy from Dec. 19, 2012 until March 22, 2013. (PNA)