(Eagle News) — Liberal Party President Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is seeking the release of Senator Leila De Lima following the recommendation to dismiss drug trafficking charges against self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim and other drug convicts by a panel of the Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service.
Pangilinan said the move of the DOJ only proves that the accusation against De Lima were all baseless.
He also questioned the credibility of Espinosa who testified against De Lima.
“Siya (Kerwin Espinosa) rin nagdidiin kay Sen. De Lima. Siya ang ginamit ng ilang mga testigo dito sa hearing tapos ngayon pinawalang sala siya. Talagang kaduda-duda ngayon itong kredibilidad ng testigong ito laban kay Sen. De Lima,” Pangilinan said.
The Philippine National Police has already filed a motion for reconsideration with the DOJ, questioning the recommendation by the DOJ panel to dismiss the case.
PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Director Roel Obusan said the CIDG only received a copy of the December 20, 2017 resolution junking the charges against Espinosa and the others on Feb. 7, 2018.
The first prosecution panel junked the drug charges against Espinosa and the others, citing a “dearth of evidence,” and the alleged inconsistencies in the testimonies of Adorco.
The resolution, dated as early as December 2017, was signed by Assistant State Prosecutors Michael John Humarang and Aristotle Reyes.
OIC Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon recommended approval of the resolution and Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan approved it.