With a 20-year sentence hanging over his head, Toledo City Councilor Ricardo Rafols, Jr. was sworn into office in a private hospital at 1 p.m yesterday.
Rafols’s sister, Maria Riza Rafols-Andana, said he was supposed to take his oath before Sen. Ralph Recto.
Despite being jailed at Muntinglupa since last year, she said her brother will serve Toledo City residents.
“He will be receiving the same privileges entitled to a councilor,” Andana said. She said her brother will send a representative to meetings.
But Andana said this representative won’t issue statements on his behalf in meetings and interviews.
“A representative is just there to listen. Whatever problems to be raised in Councilor Rafols’s office, his representative will relay it to Rafols and his chief of staff,” Andana said.
Rafols, an ally of Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, was jailed at Muntinlupa after being convicted of malversation of public property in a case filed against him by former Toledo City mayor Aurelio Espinosa.
Osmeña said his case is under appeal and Rafols is represented by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.
He said Davide promised them that he will work for Rafols’s release.
During his campaign, Osmeña claimed that Espinosa falsely accused Rafols of stealing kitchen utensils as part of the former mayor’s plans to rid himself of political foes.
“We, the family of Rick Rafols believe that justice will be served as evidenced by the change in administration in Toledo City. Truth will always prevail,” Andana said. Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon