Ragos yet to affirm recantation vs. De Lima due to prosecution panel’s motion

Former Bureau of Corrections chief Rafael Ragos was yet to affirm the recantation of his allegations against detained former senator Leila De Lima due to ongoing court proceedings, a lawyer said Friday.

Atty. Filibon Tacardon, De Lima’s counsel, said the panel of prosecutors urged the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to reconsider letting Ragos testify when asked why the latter was not able to affirm his testimony.

“Kaya lang kagabi nakatanggap daw ang hukuman ng isang motion for reconsideration, sinampa ng panel of prosecutors at ang kanilang kahilingan 'wag muling paupuin si deputy director Ragos,” Tacardon said.

(Last night, the court received a motion for reconsideration filed by the panel of prosecutors and they asked the court to not let Ragos testify.)

According to Tacardon, the court gave them five days to answer the motion for reconsideration. It also vowed to resolve the motion before the next hearing on October 28 and November 4.

“Well, nagdesisyon ang defense panel na magbigay ng komento. Anyway, binigyan naman kami ng panahon ng hukuman,” he said.

(The defense decided to give its comment. Anyway, we were given time.)

Meanwhile, when asked if there were concerns about the safety of Ragos, Tacardon said there were health and security risks.

“Ang narinig namin kanina mula sa kanyang abogado na si Atty. De Castro nagsalita sa hukuman kanina sinabi niya ay meron daw health reasons at security risk na kinakaharap ang kanyang kliyente,” he said.

For the lawyer, the affirmation of Ragos’ recantation is important as some have previously said that the recantation has no effect unless submitted to the court.

“Maraming nagsabi na wala daw itong bigat o wala itong epekto sa kaso dahil ito’y hindi pa nasusumite o hindi pa nalalahad sa hukuman,” Tacardon said.

(Many said the recantation has no effect on the case as it is yet to be submitted before the court.)

“So nakikita natin ‘yung importansya ng affidavit na 'yan na once na ‘yan ay maipresenta ni deputy director Ragos, merong magiging epekto ‘yan kahit papaano,” he added.

(So we can see the importance of the affidavit once it is presented by deputy director Ragos. It will somewhat have an effect.)

Dayan’s son testifies

Meanwhile, Tacardon said the son of Ronnie Dayan, the former driver and bodyguard of De Lima, also testified that his father was not in Parañaque on December 15, 2012 as they were celebrating at home.

Ragos previously claimed to deliver money to De Lima's residence in Parañaque City twice on November 24 and December 15, 2012. Dayan already denied this.

“‘Yung sinabi lang naman niya ay nung mga panahon ng November at December ay tuwing Sabado daw ay nasa Pangasinan 'yung kanyang ama,” Tacardon said.

(He said that during the months of November and December, his father was at home every Saturday.)

“At partikular doon sa December 15, 2012, sinabi niya na natatandaan niya na andoon 'yung kanyang ama dahil birthday daw iyon ng kanyang kapatid at sila’y nagkaroon ng maliit na celebration,” he added.

(In particular, on December 15, 2012, he said he remembered his father being there because it was his siblings’ birthday and they were having a small celebration.)—AOL, GMA News