Court upholds drug raps vs Espinosa, Co

THE Manila Regional Trial decision of the Department of Justice (DoJ), which found probable cause in the illegal drug charges against selfconfessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and four others.

In a one-page order, the Manila RTC Branch 51 rati - garding the two counts of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Espinosa, convicted drug lord Peter Co, witness Marcelo Adorco, Lovely Implal and Ruel Malindangan.

Espinosa, tagged as the “biggest drug lord” in the Visayas region, is the son of the late Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who was killed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ( CIDG) men in his detention quarters in 2016.

Through the complaint of the CIDG of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the by the DoJ against the suspects for allegedly conspiring to distribute at least 90 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride ( shabu) in Eastern and Central Visayas from 2013 to 2015.

The transactions supposedly involved 20 kilos of shabu from Co on February 5, 2013; 20 kilos from Lim on February 16, 2013; and 50 kilos from Lim on June 7, 2015. There were four other supposed transactions and deliveries with Lim as supplier, allegedly in 2014.

Along with the order, Presiding Judge Pacita Zuraek issued a warrant of arrest for the five drug suspects, but the warrant only applies to Malindangan as he remains at large.

Co is already detained at the New Bilibid Prisons while Espinosa, Adorco and Impal are under police custody.

The court set Espinosa’s arraignment on August 29 at the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City. No bail has been recommended for Espinosa.