CIDG chief says testimony vs Espinosa solid, comparable to Atio case

CIDG chief Police Director Roel Obusan INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Wednesday questioned why the case against Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa was dismissed because they relied heavily on the testimony of a single witness, when in fact it was allowed in the case of slain hazing victim Horacio “Atio” Castillio.

Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a case for violations of the Anti-Hazing Law against members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity based on the testimony of witness Mark Ventura.

READ: DOJ files hazing suit vs Aegis Juris fratmen over Atio death

“Look, there are cases na isa lang ang testigo and co-conspirator. Ang pinakasikat dito at pinaka recent is… look at the Atio case, isa lang yan,” CIDG chief Director Roel Obusan said at a press conference.

(There are indeed cases that only have one witness and co-conspirator. The most famous of this and the most recent is… look at the Atio case, it has only one.)

According to Obusan, they have included Espinosa to the case and his driver Manuel Adorco’s testimony gave details of the transaction.

“Ang pina-file namin na kaso ay yung mga activities ni Kerwin Espinosa as supplier ng illegal drugs na ginagamit si Adorco (The case we filed was based on the activities of Kerwin Espinosa as supplier of illegal drugs, in which they are utilizing Adorco),” Obusan said.

“Meaning suspect si Kerwin Espinosa kaya yung kanyang mga transactions as far as Peter Lim, Lovely Impal and Peter Co, yun ang tumakbo habang sinasalaysay ng kanyang self confessed na bodyguard na utusan nya sa pagkuha at pagtanggap ng shabu,” he added.

(Meaning Kerwin Espinosa is the suspect that is why his transactions as far as Peter Lim, Lovely Impal and Peter Co, that is the one glaringly highlighted based on the testimony of his self-confessed bodyguard who was running errand in getting and receiving shabu.)

“So yung direct participation na yun its no longer hearsay, it does not need any collaboration because that is a direct participation coming from a person directly involved doon sa paggawa ng kasalanan (in committing the offense),” Obusan said. /jpv

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