President Rodrigo Duterte was dismayed over the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to drop drug charges pressed against alleged drug lords and distributors Peter Co, Kerwin Espinosa, and Peter Lim, among others on Monday.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the president has confronted Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to discuss the decision of the DOJ to drop the charges due to “lack of evidence”.
“‘Pag nakawala ‘yan si Lim at Espinosa, siya ang ipapalit ko. I can review that dismissal order,” Roque quoted Duterte during the AFP-PNP command conference in Malacañang.
“Nag-amin na nga sa Congress! Why not admit it as evidence against him?” Duterte reportedly said in reference to Espinosa’s previous admission during a Senate probe.
Meanwhile, Aguirre has organized a three-man panel of prosecutors to review the initial decision that freed the alleged drug distributors of the crime.
The team is being led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who had previously handled other drug-related cases.
Roque also added that the police can still submit additional evidences to make a stronger case against the alleged drug distributors.
“But we need to be very careful that at this stage, that the evidence would be complete to sustain a conviction when filed before the courts,” Roque said.
The Philippine National Police has filed a motion for reconsideration following DOJ’s dismissal of charges.
Espinosa was arrested by authorities in Abu Dhabi, UAE in October 2016.
“Just this morning around 2 a.m., our team from AIDG led by Senior Superintendent (Albert) Ferro, in coordination with criminal investigation division of the Abu Dhabi police, arrested the drug lord Kerwin Espinosa,” PNP director general Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said.
