Ragos downplays Aguirre video

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos downplayed the supposed evidence of former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II allegedly showing that Ragos was not coerced into testifying against detained former senator Leila de Lima.

Ragos’ counsel, Michael de Castro, said Aguirre’s evidence – a video taken by the Public Attorney’s Office which showed Ragos supposedly testifying freely – has no bearing.

“It proves there was a video. It proves na kinausap siya (they talked to him), nothing more,” De Castro told reporters in an interview.

“The Constitution requires only one proof that there was no coercion – a written and signed waiver of Miranda rights,” De Castro added.

Ragos returned to the witness stand yesterday before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204, where he was cross-examined by government prosecutors.

De Castro said Ragos admitted that he was concerned not only for his career but also the safety of his family, the reason he went along with the plot to implicate De Lima in illegal drugs.

Prosecutors tried to play the video in open court, but were not able to present it after defense lawyers raised questions on its authenticity.

De Castro said the video might be presented during the next hearing on Nov. 25.

Asked about Aguirre’s warning that Ragos could face charges for recanting his testimony, De Castro said: “Ano ba masasabi natin doon (What can we say about it)? Good luck.”

De Lima, as she was whisked away by police officers to a vehicle, asked her supporters to continue praying that she may finally regain her freedom.

Her lawyer, Bonifacio Tacardon, said Aguirre’s statements have no bearing unless he testifies in court.

‘Sorry’

Ragos approached De Lima as she was about to enter the courtroom, flanked by police officers.

“I am really sorry. Talagang natakot ako sa kanila (I was really scared by them),” he told the former senator.

The brief meeting was caught on a video shared by a source.

While Ragos did not mention names during his chat with De Lima, he earlier accused Aguirre of coercing him into testifying against the former senator.