Ragos affirms recantation of allegations vs. De Lima — counsel

Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos on Friday affirmed before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court the recantation of his allegations against detained former senator Leila de Lima.

“Well, para sa aming defense panel importanteng-importante na identify niya 'yung kanyang affidavit of recantation at natanong naman siya kung 'yan ay totoo at kinonfirm niya na lahat ng sinabi niya doon ay totoo,” Atty. Boni Tacardon, De Lima’s counsel, said.

(Well, for the defense panel, it is very important that he was able to identify his affidavit of recantation and we were able to question him if what he said was true. And he confirmed that all he said were true.)

Ragos recanted his allegations against De Lima in May.

According to Tacardon, Ragos insisted that he was coerced from the start.

“[I]ninsist naman niya na he was coerced right from the start at 'yung coercion ay parang tuloy-tuloy at siya’y nakipaglaro na lang dahil nga concerned siya sa kanyang buhay, concerned siya sa kanyang career, concerned siya sa kanyang pamilya,” Tacardon said.

(He also insisted that he was coerced from the start and the coercion was continuous so he just played along because he was concerned about his life, his career, and his family.)

“Kaya from 2016 hanggang 2022 hindi siya nagsasalita at noon sinabi niya napansin niya na humihina na 'yung power nung nagko-coerce sa kanya, he decided to come out,” he added.

(That’s why he did not talk from 2016 to 2022. He said when he noticed that the power of the person coercing him was weakening, he decided to come out.)

Ragos was initially expected to affirm his recantation during the September 30 hearing of one of De Lima’s drug cases. However, this was pushed back after the prosecution urged the court

Tacardon said De Lima was happy with the development.

“Well, for sure natutuwa si senator Leila De Lima… sabi niya nga ito’y pagkakataon na para mabigyan ‘yung huwes, maging hukuman natin, na matimbang talaga kung ano ‘yung testimonya,” he said.

(Well, for sure senator Leila de Lima is happy. She said this was a chance for the court to evaluate the testimony.)

Medical furlough

Meanwhile, Tacardon said their request for a medical furlough for De Lima was also granted. He said she was still feeling the effects from when she was taken hostage in early October.

Tacardon said De Lima will get a full checkup at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

“After nito babalik lang si senator Leila sa Custodial Center… today din ‘yung sa Manila Doctor,” he said.

(After this, she will return to the Custodial Center. The visit to the hospital is today.)

“’Yun ang aming request after three days pero sabi ni senator Leila as soon as matapos babalik na siya sa Custodial Center,” he added.

(Our request was three days but senator Leila said that she will return to the Custodial Center as soon as this is finished.)

De Lima has been detained at Camp Crame since 2017 over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison. One of the three drug charges against her was junked by the Muntinlupa court in February last year.—AOL, GMA News