FORMER Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday denied the statement of former Bureau of Corrections acting head Rafael Ragos that he coerced and threatened him to link detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima to the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.
In a statement, Aguirre said Ragos’ claim was “farthest from the truth” because “contrary to his claim, I was never involved in coercing him to make statements involving Sen. Leila de Lima in the drug trade in the Bilibid prisons.”
“Mr. Rafael Ragos is downright lying,” he said, adding: “Mr. Ragos has always made clear to me that his statements are true and he was voluntarily offering them to us to correct an injustice and to tell the truth.”
Ragos, in a sworn affidavit, has retracted his allegations against De Lima and said he was coerced and threatened by Aguirre to deliver false testimonies against the senator at the risk of being detained or prosecuted if he failed to do so.
After making his accusations against the lawmaker, Ragos was later dropped as respondent from one of the drug cases filed against De Lima. He was then admitted to the government’s Witness Protection Program and tapped as a prosecution witness.
In his affidavit, Ragos said he was ordered to attend a meeting in September 2016, a week before the House of Representatives started its investigation into the illegal drugs trade in the NBP and De Lima’s alleged involvement in it, where Aguirre told him to execute an affidavit to corroborate the statement of his aide, Jovencio Ablen Jr. against the senator.
Ragos also said that Aguirre asked him to execute subsequent affidavits pointing to convicted drug lord Peter Co as the source of the money that he supposedly delivered to De Lima’s residence in Parañaque City.
Aguirre dismissed Ragos’ narration, pointing out that he left the DOJ in April 2018 long before the latter’s 2019 testimony before the Muntinlupa regional trial court.
“Evidently, whatever pressure that Mr. Ragos claimed I exerted on him is non-existent by the time of his testimony before the Muntinlupa RTC,” Aguirre said.
He also questioned why Ragos did not mention any coercionor retraction when he participated in five case conferences with DOJ prosecutors handling De Lima’s cases.
In addition, Aguirre said Ablen has maintained his allegations against the senator.
“This brings me to my next question, why only now? Why retract now when the May 9 national elections is only a few days away and the accused, Senator Leila de Lima, is lagging very far behind in surveys and voter’s preferences? Is it possible that Mr. Ragos is being used as a pawn in a last ditch effort to gain sympathy from voters?” Aguirre said.
Aguirre, who is now a commissioner at the National Police Commission, also said Ragos could be getting back at the government after he allegedly failed to get backpay compensation for the time that he was not receiving his regular salary and a government post.
“It also came to my knowledge that Mr. Ragos was asking to be appointed to some government post, but he was ignored. Clearly, Mr. Ragos is a man with a grudge,” Aguirre said.
De Lima slammed Aguirre for his denial. “Aguirre is a certified liar. I hope he realizes the damage he has done to the DOJ as an institution,” she said in a post in Twitter.
She again thanked Ragos for telling the truth.
“Walang expiration ang paglabas ng katotohanan (Telling the truth has no expiration),” she said.
De Lima’s legal counsels have earlier called on the DOJ to drop the charges against their client following Ragos’ recantation, which they said was the anchor of the government’s illegal drug raps against the senator.
Aguirre echoed the DOJ’s statement that recantations are unreliable unless backed up by incontrovertible evidence.
“As it is, devoid of any reliable back up, the statement of Mr. Ragos is a worthless piece of paper,” he said. Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento on Tuesday said Ragos’ sworn affidavit needs to be submitted to the court and cross-examined by prosecutors. He likewise said Ragos’ retraction will not affect their case against De Lima.
Meanwhile, several business groups appealed to the government to reconsider the remaining charges against De Lima, as they noted that the cases have not progressed the
past five years.
“Five years is a painfully long time to wait, for the government, with all the powers of the state behind it, to prosecute its case against any citizen. In light of the recanted statements of said witnesses and in deference to the constitutional right of an accused to speedy trial, we urgently appeal that appropriate action be immediately taken to resolve the case at the earliest possible time,” the groups said in a statement.
They added: “Our Constitution holds sacred every citizen’s fundamental rights to liberty and due process, and these rights form the very foundation of the just and humane society we seek, as we rebuild our post-pandemic economy and strengthen the confidence of the international community.”
The statement was signed by representatives of Filipina CEO Circle, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Integrity Initiative Inc., Judicial Reform Initiative, Makati Business Club, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service, and Women’s Business Council Philippines, Inc. — With Raymond Africa
