VP Sara Duterte Challenges Madriaga’s Allegations in Court
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President personally went to the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, to file a perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga, who had claimed to be her aide and “bagman.”
She was accompanied by her lawyer, Atty. Paolo Panelo Jr. The complaint stems from statements and documents previously submitted by Madriaga, which are also being referenced in ongoing impeachment complaints against Duterte in the House Committee on Justice.
Madriaga first gained public attention in December 2025 when he submitted a notarized affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman, claiming that he had directly worked for Duterte and handled large cash deliveries on her behalf. He also alleged that her 2022 campaign group, Inday Sara Duterte Is My President (ISIP), was funded by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and drug syndicates. Additionally, he claimed to have transported cash in duffle bags to various locations during his time serving her.
Vice President Duterte has strongly denied these allegations. She stated that she never gave Madriaga any instructions, never visited or spoke with him in prison, and that the photographs he presented were simply unrelated images from public events she attended. She added that Madriaga provided no documents or evidence to support his claims, and that his allegations are unverified and baseless.
Duterte suggested that Madriaga, who is currently in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and faces serious criminal charges with a prior record, may be acting out of desperation to gain favor or secure his release. She accused him of spreading false statements as part of an effort to obstruct or undermine her potential plans to run for president. “He is now disseminating false statements to government authorities as part of a concerted effort to obstruct and undermine my possible candidacy for President,” she said.