Cases vs suspected drug lords far from over, Palace says

March 13, 2018

The boxing match is not over yet following the dismissal of the complaints filed against two suspected drug lords by public prosecutors due to lack of evidence, Malacanang said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the complaints against Peter Lim, a "compadre" of President Rodrigo Duterte, and Kerwin Espinosa, son of slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, a suspected drug lord, would be reviewed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III.

"We would like to assure the public that the dismissal is far from being final. It is in fact subject to automatic review by Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, and we look forward to the review to be made by Secretary Aguirre," he said.

"I repeat, the boxing(match) is not yet over against Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa," he said.

He said the Palace would prompt the Philippine National Police to gather more evidence if necessary to ensure the complaints against the two suspects would prosper.

"We will not allow a big fish to go away if there's evidence to go after him," Roque said.

The panel of prosecutors have recommended dismissal of charges for violation of Section 26 (b) (conspiracy) in relation to Section 5 (sale) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Lim and Espinosa as the evidence against them were allegedly hearsay.

The complaints against the other respondents were also junked.

Despite the dismissal of the complaints, Roque was quick to say this would not affect the case of detained Senator Leila de Lima.

Espinosa has accused De Lima of receiving P8 million from him before the 2016 elections. In a Senate inquiry last year, he has said that he gave the money to De Lima's former lover and driver when she was still the secretary of the Department of Justice.

De Lima is facing charges for allegedly receiving huge money from the convicted drug lords from their operation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison.

"The DOJ petition as assured to the public will not affect the case of Senator Leila De Lima. There are other witnesses who would testify against the lady senator," Roque said.

He also said it was "unfair" to drag Duterte into the dismissal of the complaint against Lim just because they were co-sponsored in a wedding of certain individuals.

"Such allegation has no basis. Let the process move forward," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS