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Dropping of raps vs Peter Lim, et al 'a slight bump' in war on drugs: DOJ

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<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/03/13/peter-lim-kerwin-espinosa.jpg' ><figcaption>Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa. <em>Composite/File Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The junking of drug charges against drug suspects Kerwin Espinosa and Peter Lim is a "slight bump on the war against drugs," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tuesday.</p><p>On Monday, the Department of Justice made public a document that showed that Espinosa, Lim and 20 others were cleared of drug cases due to "lack of evidence."</p><p>This, despite Espinosa's statement in a Senate hearing that he was earning up to P50 million yearly in the illegal drug trade in the Visayas.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/23/16/kerwin-claims-p50-m-in-narco-sales-yearly-p20-m-for-payola'>Kerwin claims P50-M in narco sales yearly, P20-M for payola</a></li>	<li><a href='http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/11/24/16/boss-ks-web-espinosa-names-police-protectors-drug-sources'>Boss K's Web: Espinosa names police protectors, drug sources</a></li></ul><p>Lim was a businessman who was included in President Rodrigo Duterte's narcolist for allegedly masterminding the drug trade in Central Visayas. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/18/kerwin-espinosa-peter-lim-20-others-cleared-of-drug-charges'>Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim, 20 others cleared of drug charges</a></li>	<li><a href='http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/13/18/inamin-na-nga-e-gordon-blasts-dropping-of-charges-vs-kerwin-espinosa'>'Inamin na nga e': Gordon blasts dropping of charges vs Kerwin Espinosa</a></li></ul><p>"The dismissal is a slight bump on our war against drugs. It is likewise a wake up to all concerned that our efforts, from apprehension to resolution to conviction, must be concerted and thorough," Aguirre said in a statement.</p><p>Aguirre said the case is expected to be reviewed either through a "a motion for reconsideration, or ultimately, by way of automatic review" of his office.</p><p>"Suffice it to say that the current status of the case against the respondents Peter Lim et al., does not mean that it is a final exoneration of their respective criminal liabilities," he said.</p><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><p dir="ltr" lang="en">PNP asks DOJ to reverse dismissal of drug charges vs Peter Lim, Kerwin Espinosa, several others; motion for reconsideration filed on February 22.</p>— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) <a href='https://twitter.com/InaReformina/status/973388148674842626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async src='https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' type='text/javascript'></script></div><p>The Philippine National Police, in a motion for reconsideration filed on February 22, had asked the DOJ to reverse the dismissal of charges against Lim, Espinosa, and several others.</p><p>Aguirre said the Justice department "will refrain from making unnecessary comment on this particular case" while the review of the decision has yet to be finalized.<br> </p>

<p>The junking of drug charges against drug suspects Kerwin Espinosa and Peter Lim is a "slight bump on the war against drugs," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tuesday.</p>

The junking of drug charges against drug suspects Kerwin Espinosa and Peter Lim is a "slight bump on the war against drugs," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tuesday.