Missing The Point Concerning The "Dismissed" Drug Cases Of Peter Lim, Peter Co, Kerwin Espinosa And Company

There are people who are now missing the point concerning the huge mishap at the Department of Justice -- which Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre Jr. shouldn't even call it a "slight bump". In due fairness, Justice Secretary Aguirre said it's not yet final either. On the other hand, I think he should already resign if he can't do his job properly. So are we going to blame everything on President Duterte like how activists blamed former president Noynoy Aquino for everything last term? We should try and analyze the situation to see what happened.

I decided to use the Philippine Daily Inquirer against itself by giving this news report from them:

"[The dismissal of the complaint] is a wake-up call to all concerned that our efforts, from apprehension to resolution to conviction must be concerted and thorough," Aguirre said.

Aguirre said the dismissal of the case is but "a slight bump on our war against drugs."

Aguirre added that the dismissal of the case is "not a final exoneration" of all the respondents’ criminal liabilities.

"Under our present procedure in the DOJ (Department of Justice), there are possible avenues to review this case, either by a motion for reconsideration, or ultimately, by way of automatic review by my office," Aguirre said.

Aguirre cited the case of the P6.4-billion shabu shipment which was previously dismissed in favor of Customs officials but was refiled with additional evidence submitted.

The DOJ resolution dismissing the case against Lim, Espinosa and the others heavily relied on the testimony of its witness Adorco, whose testimony, according to the prosecutors was "rife with inconsistencies and contradictions."

If there are inconsistencies then how can such evidence be used? On the other hand, this is not final exoneration but due process that no one can be convicted based on bogus evidence. More importantly, President Duterte himself is upset over the situation and has even threatened to jail Justice Secretary Aguirre if both Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa escape the long arms of the law.

Here's what Malaya said concerning President Duterte's threat against the Justice Secretary if ever the failure happens:

PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday threatened to "jail" Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III if Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa "escape" from the long arm of the law.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the President made the statement during the AFP-PNP Command conference in Malacanang.

"PRRD to SOJ: Pag- nakawala 'yan si Lim at Espinosa, sya ang ipapalit ko. I can review that dismissal order. Nag-amin na nga sa Congress! Why not admit it as evidence against him?" Roque posted in his Facebook page.

("President Duterte to Secretary of Justice: if Lim and Espinosa escapes, I will put him there as replacement. I can review that dismissal order. He already admitted Congress! Why not admit it as evidence against him?" Roque posted in his Facebook page.)

Duterte was referring to Espinosa’s admission during a Senate hearing that he was involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Justice Secretary Aguirre should be dismissed if ever it happens because that's gross negligence. Espinosa's admission should be used against him. Remember that Justice Secretary Aguirre said that the exoneration is not yet final which means that it's not yet over. The Department of Justice should get a motion of reconsideration. The shabu shipment was soon given another motion against it because there is more evidence. 

It's time to mention again the Dilawans' self-contradictory behavior concerning their criticism of President Duterte for this failure. Why should they condemn President Duterte for alleged involvement in drug trade while they support Agnes Callamard who says that there's no evidence that shabu leads to violence or causes brain damage? That kind of behavior is contradictory at best. We have to consider the involvement of Callamard during the Philippines drug policy forum where she and Professor Carl Hart both said that there's no evidence that shabu leads to violence or causes brain damage. If that's true then drug trade should be legalized and everyone should have access to shabu. If her claims concerning shabu are true then shouldn't the Yellowtards all be happy if Lim, Co, Espinosa and company were dismissed so they could get high on drugs?