FORMER Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Officer in Charge Rafael Ragos surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before noon on Sunday, a Department of Justice (DOJ) official confirmed.
“[It is] confirmed [former] NBI Deputy Director Ragos [is] with NBI as per NBI Director Dante Gierran’s phone call,” Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said in a message sent to the reporters covering the DOJ.
Aside from Sen. Leila M. de Lima and her former chauffeur-paramour Ronnie Dayan, Ragos is included in the arrest warrant issued by Judge Juanita Guerrero of Branch 204 of the Regional Trial Court in Muntinlupa City.
Guerrero is handling Criminal Case 17-165, which charged de Lima, Dayan and Ragos with alleged violation of Section 5 (sale) in relation to Section 3 (jj trading), Section 26 (b) and Section 28 or the criminal liability of government officials and employees under Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
De Lima is detained at the National Police Custodial Center in Camp Rafael Crame.
She was taken on Friday to the RTC in Muntinlupa for the return of her arrest warrant.
“The Court finds sufficient probable cause for violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, Section 5 in relation to Section 3, Section 26 and Section 28 of RA 9165 [Illegal Drug Trading]. Wherefore, accused Leila M. de Lima is ordered committed to the Custodial Service Unit in Camp Crame, Quezon City,” the order read.
Dayan was ordered detained at 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, the police said.
Separate cases for three counts of drug trafficking were filed against de Lima before the RTC in Muntinlupa, which were assigned to three different courts.
The cases for sale and trading of illegal drugs and liability of government officials under RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) were assigned to Guerrero, Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz of Branch 205 and Judge Patria Manalastas-de Leon of Branch 206.
The first case in Branch 204 include de Lima, Dayan and Ragos.
De Lima is joined by her nephew Jose Adrian Dera in the second case in Branch 205.
Last, the third case in Branch 206 is against de Lima, Dera, Dayan, former BuCor Director Franklin Bucayu, his alleged bagman Wilfredo Elli, high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian and de Lima’s former bodyguard Jonel Sanchez.