Jamaine Punzalan

Expelled Negros Oriental Thirrd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. attends a press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Headquarters in Pasay City on May 20, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177457373916820250530-teves-arnie-nbi-MT-18.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Expelled Negros Oriental Thirrd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. attends a press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Headquarters in Pasay City on May 20, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp dismissed Friday alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga’s claim that he had been receiving threats from former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves, who met the second-in-command last year.</p><p>The claim that Teves “wants him dead is comical,” said Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., who serves as the Vice President’s legal counsel in her perjury complaints against Madriga.</p><p>“This obvious falsehood is entirely on brand for someone who has lied through his teeth about his supposed association with the Vice President, and his own background,” Panelo said in a statement.</p><p>“The House Justice Committee’s blind acceptance of this ridiculous and unsubstantiated narrative from a polluted source only confirms the Committee’s willingness to entertain fabrications in pursuit of a politically motivated agenda,” he said.</p><p>The lawyer underscored that Madriaga — who introduced himself as Duterte’s alleged bagman — previously claimed that the Vice President “visited him in jail to persuade him not to testify.”</p><p>“That story was quickly debunked by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who confirmed that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/23/sara-duterte-visited-teves-not-alleged-bagman-madriaga-remulla-1416">VP Sara visited Teves, not Madriaga</a>,” Panelo said.</p><p>“Since his lie was exposed, Madriaga has conveniently shifted his narrative to insinuate that VP Sara, through Teves, is behind the alleged threat to his life,” he said.</p><p>Teves and Madriaga are both detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.</p><p>Teves is behind bars for supposedly masterminding the murder of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, while Madriga is there for kidnap for ransom charges.</p><p>Panelo’s statement comes as the House Justice Committee continues to tackle impeachment charges against Duterte, a few days before Congress is expected to halt sessions for the Holy Week break.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/25/house-justice-panel-orders-subpoena-for-ramil-madriaga-michael-poa-2215">House justice panel orders subpoena for Ramil Madriaga, Michael Poa</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/13/sara-duterte-slams-disturbing-bid-for-house-custody-of-madriaga-0951">Sara Duterte slams ‘disturbing’ bid for House custody of Madriaga</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bZvC39iLBX4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Jtl7ZKHNXQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp dismissed alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga’s claim that he had been receiving threats from former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves, who met the second-in-command last year.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp dismissed alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga’s claim that he had been receiving threats from former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves, who met the second-in-command last year.

Sara Duterte lawyer: Teves’ alleged threat vs Madriaga ‘comical’

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Sara Duterte lawyer: Teves’ alleged threat vs Madriaga ‘comical’

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 27, 2026 09:13 AM PHT

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Updated March 27, 2026 09:25 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Arnolfo Teves

Ramil Madriaga

Salvador Panelo

Office of the Vice President

OVP

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