MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday received the additional evidence presented by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its drug complaint against Cebu-based businessman and alleged drug lord Peter Lim, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, and several others.
During the continuation of preliminary investigation, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which represented the PNP, submitted to panel of prosecutors the voluminous evidence from the transcripts of the 2016 Senate hearings on the investigation of the killing of Espinosa’s father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and the 2002 House of Representatives committee on dangerous drugs report over the inquiry on the drug activities of Lim and his brother Wellington.
Also submitted by the PNP was a certified true copy of the “blue book” of Bebeth Rebecca Diano which contains names in Espinosa’s payola list as well as the sworn affidavit of another respondent, Jessamin “Lovely” Impal.
PNP also submitted an additional sworn affidavit of witness and respondent Marcelo Adorco dated April 20.
Adorco, a cohort of Espinosa, was arrested on July 8, 2016 during a drug buy-bust operation in Albuera, Leyte.
In support to Adorco’s third additional sworn affidavit, the OSG also submitted travel records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) which showed Adorco flew with Espinosa flew to Thailand in 2015 where they met with Lim; and the artist sketch and computerized composite of Lim dated Aug. 29, 2017 as described by Adorco.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who heads the panel of prosecutors conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaint, gave the respondents until May 15 to file their respective counter-affidavits.
Lim was a no-show again in Monday’s preliminary investigation but was represented by his lawyer Magilyn Loja. Present in the hearing are Espinosa and Adorco.
Under the complaint, Lim and his co-respondents are accused of violating Section 26 (b) in relation to Section 5 (Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The PNP based its complaint on the sworn statements issued by Adorco who was arrested on July 8, 2016 during a drug buy-bust operation in Albuera, Leyte
Apart from Lim, Espinosa and Adorco, named respondents include convicted drug lord Peter Co, alleged drug supplier Lovely Impal, Max Miro, Ruel Malindangan, Noel “Jun” Pepito, and 11 others, only known by their aliases “Amang, Ricky, Warren, Tupie, Jojo, Jaime, Yawa, Lapi, Royroy, Marlon, and Bay”.
Lim’s co-accused Miro and Pepito died in separate incidents. (With reports from Red Andador OJT/PNA)
