The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, July 19, ordered to press charges against Kerwin Espinosa, and Peter Co, among others, for drug-related activities, reversing its initial decision to junk their cases for insufficient evidence.
In a press statement, a DOJ panel ordered to review the initial decision of the justice department announced that the alleged drug lords and distributors violated Section 26 (b) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“[The panel] found sufficient the positive allegations of Marcelo Adorco, identifying Espinosa, Co, [Lovely] Impal and [Ruel] Malindagan as his cohorts to charge them with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade,” the statement read.
The charges will be filed before the Regional Trial Court of Makati on Friday.
Meanwhile, the DOJ panel approved the request of another accused distributor, Peter Lim, for a separate investigation. His case is still pending.
The panel also dismissed charges against Max Miro, Nestor “Jun” Pepito, and Rowen Reyes Secretaria for their “recent deaths.”
Miro was killed by the police while servicing a police warrant after he fought back with the authorities in Ormoc City. Pepito, meanwhile, was shot dead by an unidentified riding-in-tandem shooters in Albuera, Leyte on December 1, 2017.
