Ex–Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Rafael Ragos has passed away, according to his family on Tuesday, 12 August.
The former BuCor DG was one of Rep. Leila de Lima’s accusers when she was linked to the illegal drug trade.
Winston Ragos, nephew of the former BuCor head, announced his passing in a post.
“Thank you Tito [Rafael] for your legacy in serving your family and our beloved country,” Ragos’ nephew said in a Facebook post.
However, the cause of his death was not disclosed.
Ragos testified against De Lima in 2016 when she was accused of being responsible for the illegal drug trade within the New Bilibid Prison.
He claimed that P10 million was delivered to De Lima’s bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, at her house.
In 2022, Ragos recanted his statement, apologizing to De Lima, saying he was coerced by then–justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to accuse her because he was afraid.
Ragos claimed to have received death threats after he refused to implicate De Lima any further.
The former senator, now a party-list representative, spent seven years incarcerated, with her case facing frequent delays.
She is a vocal critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, but won her case after spending years in prison.