State prosecutors dismiss drug raps vs. Peter Lim, Kerwin Espinosa

Prosecutors with the Department of Justice have dismissed drug trading charges against businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa for weak evidence.

A 41-page resolution approved by Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan and dated December 20, 2017, said the "uncorroborated statements" of the complainant's witness, Marcelo Adorco, could not be admissible evidence against the respondents.

The resolution described Adorco as an "evidently self-serving witness."

"To our view, the above discrepancies in Adorco's affidavits have seriously impaired their probative value and have casted serious doubt on their credibility," the resolution said.

"His contradictory statements on important details simply eroded the integrity and veracity of his testimony," it added.

Also cleared are Peter Co, Adorco, Max Miro, Lovely Impal, Ruel Malindangan, Jun Pepito, and other individuals identified only through aliases.

Moreover, the resolution said the police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the complainant, was not "able to submit any object or illegal drugs constituting the corpus delicti of the alleged transactions."

"The dearth of complainant's evidence and Adorco's unreliability as a witness thus constrain us to dismiss the present complaint against the respondents," the resolution stated.

The CIDG accused the respondents of violation of Section 26(b) in relation to Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, or the provisions against conspiring on the sale, trading, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs.

It covered drug transactions from February 2013 to August 2015 involving at least 90 kilos of shabu allegedly sourced from Lim and Co, delivered at a grocery store in Makati City, and distributed by Espinosa's men in Bohol, Samar, Northern and Southern Leyte, Biliran, and some parts of Cebu.

The decision is subject for automatic review by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. —NB, GMA News