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Minority solons want Aguirre to explain dismissal of charges vs. Lim, Espinosa


Members of minority bloc of the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to explain the dismissal of the drug trading charges against businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa.

Minority Leader Danilo Suarez made the call after Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors dropped the charges against Lim, Espinosa and 20 others in connection with their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade due.

"Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II needs to explain why the DOJ dismissed the case. He has been there since the start of the investigation, yet, he let this happen," Suarez said in a press conference.

"We wonder why the DOJ does not seem to be aligned with the President's thrust, particularly in the campaign against illegal drugs," he added.

Suarez also assailed the reason given by the prosecutors for their decision to drop the charges.

"Why would there be insufficient evidence when Espinosa himself admitted being drug lord?" he said.

"Senator [Leila] De Lima was indicted because of allegations that she conspired with these personalities. Does this mean that the charges against Senator De Lima and these, baseless?" he added.

Suarez reminded Aguirre that he is part of President Rodrigo Duterte's cabinet, whose actions and decisions are "deemed those of the President's."

"Just two years into his [Aguirre's] term, and already, the integrity of his office and attached agencies are under question. This is alarming, given the vast powers that the Secretary of Justice can exercise," he said.

"In light of this, we call upon the President to review the personalities of his official family and determine their fitness to hold their positions," he added.

Aguirre, however, said the dismissal of the charges against Lim and Espinosa is not yet final.

He has also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the panel of prosecutors who dismissed the charges.

Members of the progressive Makabayan bloc, meanwhile, called for Aguirre's to resign. — BM, GMA News

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