Makati court orders arrest of Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim, 2 others over drug raps

MANILA (UPDATE) - A Makati court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of drug suspects Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Go Lim and two others for alleged conspiracy to engage in narcotics trade.

This after the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65 upheld the Department of Justice's resolution finding probable cause against the suspects for alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

READ: Warrants of arrest issued by Makati City RTC vs Peter Go Lim, Ruel Malindangan over conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading case. Note: Kerwin Espinosa is with DOJ WPP, while Marcelo Adorco is under police custody pic.twitter.com/ZJKry4D5Lu

— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) August 14, 2018

The court scheduled their arraignment on Aug. 28.

Makati City RTC upholds DOJ finding of probable cause on conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading charges vs Peter Go Lim, Kerwin Espinosa, 2 others; warrants of arrest issued and arraignment set on Aug. 28 pic.twitter.com/dK2bBf0stA

— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) August 14, 2018

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against Lim, Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindangan.

In the case, Lim was identified as the source of "shabu" sold by the "Espinosa group" in Regions 7 and 8 in 2013 and 2014.

• DOJ indicts Peter Lim, Kerwin Espinosa in drug case

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier identified Lim as a big time druglord called "Jaguar" while Espinosa had earlier confessed to drug involvement.

The affirmed DOJ indictment reversed an earlier prosecution panel's dismissal of the charges against them, which drew heavy criticism. -with a report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News