Dismissal of raps vs. Peter Lim, Kerwin shows gov’t not serious in war on drugs — solon

The dismissal of drug trading charges against businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa only shows that the Duterte administration is not entirely serious in its war against illegal drugs, Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin said Tuesday.

At a press conference, Villarin pointed out that Lim and Espinosa have been identified as drug lords since President Rodrigo Duterte's first days in office.

State prosecutors, however, junked the charges against them due to  weak evidence.

"It seems that the administration is not really serious in its drug war considering that the cases against identified drug lords, they are [on] the President's list," Villarin said.

"This dismissal based on insufficiency of evidence clearly shows that indeed, the Duterte government is not serious to put a stop on the drug war," he added.

Villarin noted that since evidence against Lim and Espinosa are weak, it is only proper that Senator Leila de Lima, who is also facing drug charges, should also be freed from detention.

"If the evidence is insufficient against these drug lords, then the high probability that the charges against Senator De Lima should likewise be dismissed. In short, what is sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose," he said.

"Dapat lang na ngayon ay palayain si Senator De Lima because for more than a year, she has been put into prison and detention even without a formal trial," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said the dropping of charges against Espinosa won't affect the case on De Lima.

"So iba po ang basehan ng pagsampa ng kaso kay Leila De Lima, iba ang basehan sa pagsampa ng kaso dito kay Peter Lim," Roque told reporters, adding there are other witnesses who would testify on the senator's drug links.

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, stressed what he believes is the true policy of the Duterte administration on the anti-drug campaign.

"The policy of the Duterte administration is to liberate drug lords and liquidate small ones," he said.

Aside from Lim and Espinosa, also cleared were Peter Co, Adorco, Max Miro, Lovely Impal, Ruel Malindangan, Jun Pepito, and other individuals identified only through aliases. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News