DOJ panel junks drug trading charges vs alleged big time druglord Peter Lim, Kerwin Espinosa, several others. Resolution subject to automatic review by Office of Justice Secretary. pic.twitter.com/gq1LTIaoAm

— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) March 12, 2018

MANILA - The Department of Justice has cleared alleged drug lords Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim and 20 others of charges related to the narcotics trade due to lack of evidence, according to a resolution made public on Monday.

"Our law enforcement agencies shall gather more concrete and competent evidence proving that respondents and other individuals are indeed involved in illegal drug activities," the DOJ resolution read.

Police can file charges again but they have to make sure that these are backed by more evidence and corroborated testimonies, the DOJ said.

Other drug suspects who were cleared include Peter Co, Marcelo Adorco, Max Miro, Lovely Impal, Ruel Malindangan, Jun Pepito, Jermy Amang and several others identified only by their aliases.

Lim, a businessman was a suspected drug lord in Central Visayas tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte. Espinosa and Co were accused of being among leaders of the drug trade in Regions Central and Eastern Visayas.

Espinosa's father, Albuera town Mayor Rolando Espinosa, also an alleged drug lord, was killed by police authorities in an alleged shootout inside his jail cell.