De Lima: Dismissal of complaint vs. Kerwin, Peter Lim proves my innocence

Senator Leila de Lima said Wednesday the dismissal of drug trading complaint against Kerwin Espinosa and Peter Lim proves she is innocent of the charges filed against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

De Lima said a DOJ prosecution panel's dismissal of the complaint against the two alleged drug lords and several others only shows that President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war is fake.

“Ngayon nga pong inabswelto ng DOJ sina Peter Lim, Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Co at iba pang sangkot sa ilegal na droga, lalong napapagtibay ang aking pagiging inosente, at ang aking paniniwala sa simula't sapul na peke at palpak ang War on Drugs ni Duterte,” she said in a press statement.

In a  41-page resolution, dated December 20, 2017, approved by Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan, drug trading charges against businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa were dismissed for weak evidence.

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

The panel said the "uncorroborated statements" of the complainant's witness, Marcelo Adorco, could not be admissible evidence against the respondents.

The complaint was filed by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

In an earlier briefing, CIDG chief Director Roel Obusan said that the dismissal of the complaint against Espinosa and the others should not have an effect on the drug trading charges of De Lima. 

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had said the dismissal is not yet final. He said he has ordered the creation of a body that will review the decision.

De Lima is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City over allegations that she was involved in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice secretary.

Espinosa, in his testimony before the Senate, claimed that he gave money to De Lima, through her driver Ronnie Dayan, in two instances.

De Lima said that amid these latest developments, her fight for her freedom continues.

“Tuloy-tuloy po ang aking paglaban, hindi lang sa aking paglaya, kundi sa paglaya ng bayan mula sa kasinungalingan, panlilinlang at pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan ng rehimeng ito. Mananatili po akong naninindigan para sa katotohanan, katarungan at kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan,” she said. —ALG, GMA News