LOVELY Impal, the alleged supplier of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, will continue to stay behind bars even after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the drug charges against her, Espinosa, and several others for lack of evidence.
Agent Ben Calibre of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Northern Mindanao (PDEA-10) said Impal will remain in the Iligan City jail following her arrest in a sting operation in January 2017.
Impal was arrested along with her cousin Alvin Pamlian and close associate Farina Rato after half a million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, was seized from them during the drug bust.
Tagged as the “Drug Queen of the South,” Impal is on trial for sale and possession of illegal drugs.
PDEA maintained that the evidence against Impal is strong enough to convict the suspect.
"Sa among level sa PDEA-10 nagtuo mi nga lig-on ang among mga ebidensya. Magpabilin siya sa prisohan bisan ug gi-dismiss sa DOJ ang iyang laing kaso (For PDEA-10 we believe that our evidence is strong and she will stay inside the jail even if the DOJ absolved her)," Calibre said.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is also not giving up on the case and has appealed the DOJ decision.
CIDG Director Roel Obusan said he might use his subpoena powers for the first time to bolster their case against Impal, Espinosa and Cebu businessman Peter Lim.
Read: CIDG chief to use subpoena powers to bolster case vs Espinosa, Lim
The Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed in December 2017 the drug charges filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Major Crimes Investigation Unit (MICU) against Espinosa, Lim, Peter Co, Adorco, Max Miro, Impal and at least 15 others including their alleged accomplices.
A new panel of prosecutors has been created to review the decision while the CIDG has also filed a motion for reconsideration and preparing its supplemental affidavit, which will now include the admission of Espinosa before the Senate inquiry into illegal drugs. (With SunStar Philippines)