2 respondents in Peter Lim drug case killed — DOJ

KERWIN’S MAN Chief Insp. Jove Espenido, police chief of Albuera town in Leyte province, says Max Miro (right), the top aide of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, led policemen to a spot where he hid a stash of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride, shown in foreground), worth P24 million, on orders of Espinosa. FILE PHOTO/ROBERT DEJON/Inquirer Visayas

Two respondents in the illegal drug trading charges against Cebu-based businessman and alleged drug lord Peter Lim charges were killed in separate incidents, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has learned.

Max Miro, right-hand man of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, was killed by policemen in Barangay Bantigue, Ormoc City on March 10 after he resisted arrest.

Nelson “Jun” Pepito, meanwhile, was killed by two unidentified motorcycle riding-in-tandem gunmen along Sitio Manga, Barangay Seguinon in Albuera town, Leyte on December 10, 2017.

Two of the Peter Lim’s co-respondents in the DOJ case now subject of reinvestigation are already dead. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/ijQMBsEcru

— tetch torres-tupas (@T2TupasINQ) April 3, 2018

The two were issued subpoenas to appear before another preliminary investigation into the criminal charges hurled against them on April 12 at the DOJ Forum Building.

In the preliminary investigation, the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) as well as the respondents were allowed to submit additional pieces of evidence to support their respective positions.

The new probe was launched after the DOJ came under fire when it dismissed the “weak” drug charges filed by the PNP-CIDG against respondents Lim, Espinosa, Lovely Impal, Ruel Malindangan and 11 others. /je