Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The lawyer of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged “bagman,” Ramil Madriaga, referred his notarized affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.The affidavit alleged Duterte’s supposed links to Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs).The transmittal was made “for appropriate action, evaluation, and such proceedings as may be warranted under applicable laws,” according to the letter sent by Palad Lauron Palad &amp; Te law firm.“We submit this referral in deference to the Ombudsman’s authority to investigate and act upon acts or omissions of public officers and employees,” the letter said.But according to Madriaga’s legal counsel, Atty. Raymund Palad, they hope the ombudsman’s probe would lead to a forensic examination of Madriaga’s three mobile phones, which allegedly contain call logs and text messages that prove the deliveries and other allegations made in the affidavit.“Puwede rin i-subpoena ng ombudsman ‘yung sinasabing tatlong mobile phone ni Ramil Madriaga na nasa custody ng court kasi ang purpose talaga namin ‘yun– ma-forensic examination ‘yun para lumabas lahat ng mga usapan, call logs, text messages, at ‘yung mga photos na naka-save doon sa kanyang tatlong mobile phone,” Palad said.It is also possible for them to request that the National Bureau of Investigation conduct a forensic examination of the aforementioned mobile phones, Palad added.&quot;I-waive niya yung whatever date of privacy rights niya yan para lang mapatunayan na yung kinukwento niya ay hindi lang kwento, talagang supported by photos, text messages, and mga call logs,&quot; he said.According to Palad, the Ombudsman may also send an investigator to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) so Madriaga could elaborate on the matter further.“May power ang Ombudsman na magpadala ng inbestigador doon sa BJMP, kausapin siya, interview-in siya para ma-validate, ma-expound ‘yung salaysay niya,” Palad told reporters in a Zoom interview.Madriaga is presently under the custody of the BJMP Taguig, according to Palad.Back in 2023, the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) nabbed Madriaga and other individuals due to a warrant of arrest for kidnapping for ransom.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/13/23/alleged-leader-members-of-kidnap-for-ransom-group-arrested">READ: Alleged leader, members of kidnap-for-ransom group arrested</a></div>Madriaga said, “Number one, dahil nga sa limited ‘yung kanyang galaw dahil naka-detain siya, gusto namin base sa pakikipag-usap ko sa kanya, gusto niyang mailabas ‘yung nalalaman niya para managot daw ‘yung dapat managot sa mga kasalanang ginawa nila. So alam niya ‘yung balik niyan, ‘yung sipa sa kanya, ‘yung paninira sa kanya… Especially na ang feeling niya kasi ginigipit siya, lalo na nung kinasuhan siya ng kidnapping ni Atty. Harry Roque. Isa ‘yun sa mga nagpapabigat ng problema niya. So sabi niya, ilabas ko na rin yung mga nalalaman ko versus VP Sara, ‘yung mga kaibigan niya pati kay Atty. Harry Roque.”Citing Madriaga, Palad said the prior used different mobile phones for Duterte and other individuals.“Iba kay VP Sara, iba doon sa ISIP. Tatlo yung hawak niyang mobile phone,” Palad said.Madriaga alleged in the affidavit that funding for the Inday Sara Duterte Is My President (ISIP) national campaign was from POGOs and drug dealers.“I was able to identify several of these individuals during my frequent pickups of cash-filled bags at locations such as The Gate in Pampanga, Vertis North Mall and Seda Hotel in Quezon City, and the Grand Hyatt in BGC,” the affidavit dated November 29, 2025 reads.Aside from this accusation on funding, the affidavit says Madriaga worked with Colonel Dennis Nolasco and Colonel Ramund Dante Lachica, both earlier investigated over alleged confidential fund misuse, to transport “large amounts of money to several persons as instructed by VP Sara.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/9/sara-duterte-s-security-unchanged-despite-relief-of-unit-chief-afp-says-1800">READ: Sara Duterte&#x27;s security unchanged despite relief of unit chief, AFP says</a></div>This includes the supposed delivery of four duffle bags containing around P33 million to P35 million each, one of which was left in a car at the Ombudsman parking compound, as written in the affidavit.Madriaga also alleged he was given a white Vios by Nolasco with around P80 million inside, which he later had to leave at a mall parking lot.According to Madriaga, he later saw the same Vios driven by Ombudsman Prosecutor Ryan Rey Quilala’s wife, also said to have been Duterte’s classmate.Just last week, civil society groups filed plunder, graft, bribery, and malversation complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Duterte over alleged mishandling of confidential funds.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/12/sara-duterte-ovp-and-deped-execs-face-plunder-raps-over-confidential-funds-1334">READ: Sara Duterte, 15 others face plunder raps over confidential funds</a></div>But Palad clarified this filing of a notarized affidavit was done independently, separate from the aforementioned complaints. <div>MARCOS JR. HAS &#x27;NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE&#x27; ON DUTERTE&#x27;S ALLEGED POGO, DRUG TIES</div>Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has “no personal knowledge” about Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged ties with drug lords and illegal gambling operators, Malacañang said on Tuesday.The Palace gave this statement after Madriaga — Duterte’s former security aide — claimed that the Vice President’s 2022 campaign was sourced from donations from drug lords and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).“Walang personal knowledge ang Pangulo sa anumang maaaring naging transaksyon ng Bise Presidente sa POGO operators at drug lords,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.When asked what the President — who ran alongside Duterte as his vice president in the 2022 national elections — thought of Madriaga’s accusations, Castro said that the Chief Executive has been consistent in saying that every erring government official should be held accountable for their misdeeds.“Ang Pangulo kasi sinabi na noon pa nagiging kung dapat managot ay dapat panagutin. Wala dapat sinisino,” she said.“Kung sino man ang makakapagbigay ng anumang ebidensya laban sa sinumang public servant… dapat lamang maimbestigahan. Siguraduhin lang po na ito ay hindi pamumulitika,” she said.Former Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo earlier labeled Madriaga’s accusations against Duterte as “politically motivated.”Duterte, in a statement December 13, claimed that &quot;another fishing expedition is now being launched&quot; against her.&quot;They scramble to weaponize any accusation they can manufacture just to create a semblance of procedural legitimacy for an investigation,&quot; she said. &quot;Hinihikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at huwag basta magpapadala sa mga paninira.&quot;

The lawyer of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged “bagman,” Ramil Madriaga, referred his notarized affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.

The lawyer of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged “bagman,” Ramil Madriaga, referred his notarized affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.

Affidavit from Sara Duterte’s alleged ‘bagman’ referred to Ombudsman

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Affidavit from Sara Duterte’s alleged ‘bagman’ referred to Ombudsman

Agatha Gregorio,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 16, 2025 04:39 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Office of the Ombudsman

POGO

illegal drugs

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