DE LIMA CO-ACCUSED SURRENDERS TO NBI

Former jail official allegedly received P400T in exchange for favors for inmates

Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, one of the officials accused of being involved in the illegal drug trading in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), yesterday surrendered before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

According to NBI Director Dante Gierran, Ragos arrived at the NBI before noon.

Ragos is one of the co-accused in one of the drug cases filed against Sen. Leila De Lima for being allegedly responsible for the proliferation of narco-trading in the state penitentiary.

In the congressional hearing last September, Ragos said he personally delivered to De Lima millions of pesos when she was still justice secretary.

Inmates who testified before the House committee on justice had also accused Ragos of receiving payola from drug lords. Jojo Baligad, one of the inmates, said he gave Ragos money amounting to P400,000 in exchange of favor and protection.

An arrest warrant was issued agains Ragos, De Lima, and her ex-driver Ronnie Dayan on Thursday night by Judge Gyerrero of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 204.

Branch 204 is handling Criminal Case No. 17-165 which specifically charged De Lima, Dayan and Ragos for violation of Section 5 (sale) in relation to Section 3 (trading), Section 26 (b) and Section 28 or the criminal liability of government officials and employees under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The senator appeared on Friday before the court for the return of the arrest warrant. She was detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Meanwhile, Dayan was placed in the custody of the Muntinlupa City Jail. Dayan will be alone in his detention cell, as he is a high profile detainee. He will also have to provide his own bed, police said.

Separate cases for three counts of drug trafficking were filed against De Lima before the Muntinlupa RTC, which were assigned to three different courts. /

Inmates who testified before the House committee on justice had accused former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos of receiving payola from drug lords