Mayor’s uncle falls in gun raid

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

The uncle of an Antique town mayor was arrested following a gun raid at San Jose town morning of Aug. 21, 2019.

Businessman Efraem Lim, 60, was arrested at his house at Barangay Funda- Dalipe, San Jose town.

Lim is the uncle of Mayor Rigil Kent Lim and Vice Mayor Genevive Lim-Reyes of Caluya town.

Members of San Jose Police Station stormed the suspect’s house by virtue of Search Warrant  No. 17-2019 for Violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).

Executive Judge Francisco Guzman of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 in San Jose, Antique issued the warrant.

Recovered from Lim were a caliber .45 pistol (serial number 19581101), and five hollow point and 16 hard ball ammunition of the same caliber.

Police Lieutenant Col. Mark Anthony Darroca, San Jose police chief, said they took the firearm from Lim’s vehicle.

“At first, he was confident in telling us that his firearm was left at Caluya,” he said.

But when Lim was told that his vehicle would also be searched, he appeared to be disturbed.

Darroca said they asked Judge Guzman to include Lin’s vehicle in the search operation after they received reports that he pointed a gun at a motorist in a sideswiping incident.

Darroca said they conducted the operation following reports of the suspect’s illegal discharge of firearm.

In 2017, a neighbor sought police assistance when Lim allegedly fired his gun. Police responded but no witness came out to point to Lim.

On Aug. 9, 2019, the local police again received a report that he indiscriminately fired his gun.

Lim is now detained and will be charged for violation of RA 10591.