MANILA - (UPDATE) Malacañang on Thursday told alleged drug lord Peter Lim to surrender after law enforcement officials failed to catch him.

“We are asking [Peter] Lim, please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court. You will be given your day in court,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

The Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation have formed tracker teams to look for Lim, who was earlier ordered arrested by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65.

The local court upheld the Department of Justice's resolution finding probable cause against the suspects for alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against Lim, Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindangan.

In the case, Lim was identified as the source of "shabu" sold by the "Espinosa group" in Regions 7 and 8 in 2013 and 2014.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier identified Lim as an illegal drugs bigwig while Espinosa had earlier confessed to drug involvement.

The Department of Justice said there was no indication that Lim has left the Philippines.

However, Justice Chief Menardo Guevarra said Thursday the Philippines can seek the help of the International Police Organization (Interpol) on locating the whereabouts of Lim amid rumors that he has fled the country.

"No information or confirmation that Peter Lim has slipped out of the country but if he has, we may ask the Interpol for info[rmation] on his whereabouts, depending on which country he may have fled to," he said in a statement.

"The Philippine government may ask for extradition or other forms of legal assistance," he added.

-with a report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News

