Aguirre: NBI’s Ragos delivered money to De Lima’s ex-driver more than twice

Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos has disclosed that he had delivered drug money to Senator Leila De Lima, through her former driver, more than twice, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Wednesday.

"Nag-open na siya dun sa iba pang nalalaman niya on deliveries ng money ... pati yung kay (Ronnie) Dayan (na pinagdeliveran niya ng pera ng ilang beses)," Aguirre told reporters, citing Ragos' supplemental affidavit.

Currently working for the National Bureau of Investigation, Ragos previously testified before the House of Representatives justice committee that he was accompanied by NBI agent Jovencio Ablen Jr. in delivering P5 million in two instances to De Lima's house in Parañaque City in 2012.

Ragos said he handed the money to De Lima's then driver-security aide, Ronnie Dayan, who in turn allegedly handed over the money to the former justice secretary.

Ragos also detailed in his supplemental affidavit that he gave drug payoffs to other BuCor officials during his stint in the agency, which runs the New Bilibid Prison, according to Aguirre.

De Lima has repeatedly denied the accusation that she tolerated drug syndicates inside the national penitentiary when she was justice secretary in exchange for funds for her senatorial campaign this year.

However, witnesses including some high profile inmates, have pointed to De Lima's complicity in the illegal drug trade inside the NBP.

The House inquiry will resume on Thursday with Aguirre expected to present at least seven witnesses such as De Lima's former security aide and alleged bagman, Joenel Sanchez, who will talk about his knowledge on the senator's relationship with Dayan.

Sex video

Aguirre said Sanchez allegedly saw the "sex video" featuring De Lima and Dayan on the former driver's phone.

"Kaya sabi ko hindi na kailangan ipalabas yung sex video, kung meron man, kasi dun (sa affidavit) sinabi niya (Sanchez), naiwan ata ni Dayan yung kanyang cellphone, so pinakialaman ng mga security at may nakita sila (na sex video)," the Cabinet official said.

Aguirre maintained it was up to the House panel to play the video amid opposition from several quarters and the rest of the Senate.

A Bilibid inmate and an intelligence officer from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation Detection Group will also testify on the missing P300 million cash allegedly seized during the December 2014 raid inside NBP's maximum security compound.

De Lima allegedly kept the money, Aguirre said last week, quoting the inmate.

Congressmen had also summoned Jaybee Sebastian, a Bilibid inmate being accused by his fellow prisoners of raising money De Lima's candidacy; former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Jesus Bucayu; and former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director Reginald Villasanta.

It was not immediately clear if Sebastian would be able to attend the hearing because he is still recuperating from injuries he sustained in the deadly stabbing incident inside the NBP on September 28.  — RSJ, GMA News