Remulla on perjury rap vs. Ragos: Interested party has to file

An interested party has to file a complaint if perjury charges will be pursued against former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos who recanted his allegations against Senator Leila De Lima, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.

Asked if the Department of Justice would file a perjury rap against Ragos in connection with  his retraction, Remulla said, "There has to be an interested party for us to file it."

"We will ask the prosecutors involved if they want to file a case. We are not encouraging anything," Remulla said.

Branch 204 of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Friday acquitted De Lima and former security aide Ronnie Dayan of an illegal drug trading charge.

In a 39-page decision, the court said that Ragos' recantation cast reasonable doubt on De Lima and Dayan's involvement even though the prosecution established the existence of rampant illegal drug trading at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Ragos had claimed that he and aide Jovencio Ablen Jr. delivered P5 million in proceeds from the illegal drug trade inside the NBP to De Lima's house in Parañaque City in 2012.

In May 2022, Ragos retracted his testimony against De Lima. —NB, GMA Integrated News