Ex-BuCor chief Rafael Ragos dies

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Rafael Ragos has died, his family announced on Tuesday, August 12.

They did not disclose the cause of his death.

“Thank you Tito Pael for your legacy in serving your family and our beloved country,” his nephew, Winston Ragos, wrote in a Facebook post.

A former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director as well, Ragos was a key witness in the controversial illegal drug cases filed against then-Justice Secretary and now ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.

In 2016, he claimed that he personally delivered a total of ₱10 million to De Lima’s former bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, allegedly at her residence in Parañaque in November and December 2012.

However, in 2022, Ragos retracted his testimony, saying he had been coerced into making the allegations. He apologized to De Lima and admitted: “Natakot ako” (“I was scared”).

He said former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II pressured him to implicate De Lima in the New Bilibid Prison drug trade.

In a statement mourning his passing, De Lima honored Ragos’ courage in reversing his testimony.

“I honor his conscience in recanting his false testimonies against me which led to my acquittal in one of the trumped-up illegal drug charges. I thank him for his courage in identifying the personalities behind the conspiracy to destroy my reputation and put me in unjust detention,” said De Lima.

“Mr. Ragos was used but he sought redemption. He asked for forgiveness, and I gave it to him. Alam ko na isa siya sa mga ginipit para siraan at ipakulong ako sa mga gawa-gawang paratang. Salamat sa tapang at paninindigan para maituwid ang mali at mangibabaw ang katotohanan,” she added.