INTERIOR and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año expressed dismay on Thursday, March 15, over the dismissal of the drug charges against self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa and Cebu businessman Peter Lim.
Año said he believes there was probable cause to charge the two men based on the complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Major Crimes Investigation Unit (MICU).
“Nakakadismaya naman ‘yun. We're not happy with the resolution. Everybody knows na these people are involved sa drugs. Umamin naman sa Senado 'yung Espinosa and the witness (Espinosa and the witness have already admitted before the Senate) at probable cause lang naman ‘yung kailangan hindi naman yan trial na (It is not a trial yet. It was just to find probable cause),” he said.
“Pagka kasi ikaw ang in charge sa mga ganyang cases, siguro hindi lang naman siguro titingnan mo kung ano ‘yung sinubmit sayo. Siguro naman meron ka rin namang mga initiative na gagawin to find out more, even to subpoena people or documents that you believe would help for you to decide on the case, sa tingin ko lang hindi naman kailangang kung ano lang ‘yung documents na umabot sayo ‘yung dun ka lang titingin you can even expand, you can initiate if you want to have a case,” he added.
Due to lack of evidence and inconsistencies in the statements of the witness, Espinosa's driver-bodyguard Marcelo Adorco, state prosecutors Michael John Humarang and Aristotle Reyes junked the drug charges against Espinosa, Lim, Peter Co, Adorco, Max Miro, Lovely Impal and at least 15 others including their alleged accomplices.
The CIDG has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Justice department.
Año said he told PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa and CIDG director Roel Obusan to make sure to gather and present to the prosecution all the other evidence to strengthen the case.
He said they are closely monitoring the case amid the government’s war on drugs.
“I hope pag-aralan mabuti ng state prosecutors ‘yung pag-review at pag-investigate nung case para naman talagang maging, alam mo na, maging acceptable talaga ‘yung result nung investigation,” he said.
(I hope the state prosecutors would study and review this carefully to make sure that the results of the investigation would be acceptable.)
“Talagang masusi natin na binabantayan at minomonitor ito dahil ito ‘yung ano natin, ito ‘yung focus area natin, fight drugs and they assured me naman, the chief PNP and chief CIDG, that they'll make sure that in this case they will do everything to ensure a tight case that will not lead to a dismissal of the appeal of the case,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)