Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre is doing a Pontius Pilate in washing his hands of the improvident dismissal of drug charges against Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa, among others.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte accused Lim of drug offenses and Espinosa has confessed to being a drug dealer.

Aguirre cannot pretend not knowing beforehand that his own panel of prosecutors is throwing out the criminal complaints against big time drug lords. He was privy to the full length of the investigation.

Aguirre cannot be looking for fall guys among his own handpicked subordinates.

Aguirre does not need to create a “new panel” because all he has to do is to reject or disapprove the dismissal, albeit belatedly, as he is after all the Secretary of Justice and the President’s alter ego.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN