Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Article (news)

RG Cruz

Jervis Manahan

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/177624394323820260414-vp-sara-impeachment-ramil-madriaga-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ramil Madriaga arrives at the House of Representatives and is sworn in before the House Committee on Justice on April 14, 2026, as he testifies during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ramil Madriaga arrives at the House of Representatives and is sworn in before the House Committee on Justice on April 14, 2026, as he testifies during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was &quot;shocked&quot; by the claims made by self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, Malacañang said Wednesday, as they denied allegations of a supposed term-sharing deal and other plots raised in a sworn statement.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president has no knowledge of any agreement to share the presidency with Vice President Sara Duterte, contrary to Madriaga’s claims. </p><p>&quot;Siya po ay nagulat, dahil hindi po ganoon ang Pangulo,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Ang Pangulo po ay nangampanya sa taumbayan, nangako na maglilingkod sa taumbayan, at nangakong tatapusin ang kanyang termino para sa bayan,&quot; she added.</p><div><strong><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/15/who-is-ramil-madriaga-1437">Who is Ramil Madriaga?</a></strong></div><p>Madriaga’s allegations also included an alleged ouster plot and a supposed plan to assassinate Marcos Jr. by poison if he refused to step down.</p><p>The Palace said the National Bureau of Investigation is duty-bound to look into such threats, stressing that no directive from the president is needed to trigger an investigation.  </p><p>&quot;Hindi na nga po na bago ito, ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng Pangulo. Sinimulan na nga po ito ng Bise Presidente, nadinig na rin po natin si Mayor Baste Duterte. So, hindi na po kailangang mag-utos ng Pangulo para imbestigahan ito,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Ang NBI po, kayo po ay nakatalagang mag-imbestiga sa mga ganitong klaseng death threats sa Pangulo at kahit sinumang ordinaryong tao, mayroon po kayong obligasyon na imbestigahan ito,&quot; she added.</p><p>The Duterte camp, however, dismissed Madriaga’s claims as “pure fiction,” with lawyer Paolo Panelo Jr. saying the allegations only show that Madriaga is not credible. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>IMEE DENIES MADRIAGA’S CLAIMS </strong></div><p>Panelo Jr., Duterte&#x27;s legal counsel for the perjury case against Madriaga, said the &quot;bagman&quot; just proved that he is a fraud.</p><p>Madriaga had spoken extensively about his affidavit against Duterte on the impeachment proceeding of the House Justice Committee on Tuesday.</p><p>Duterte ally Sen. Imee Marcos rejected Madriaga’s claims, calling them lies and presenting what she said were personal accounts and records of political discussions leading up to 2022 national elections. </p><p>&quot;Sinungaling ka, Madriaga... At ang lahat ng gustong marinig at pakinabangan ng mga kasinungalingan mo ay may naghihintay na kwarto sa impiyerno,” she said.</p><p>The president’s sister said there was no agreement between Marcos and Duterte to split the presidential term. </p><p>She cited screenshots of group chats from 2021 and recalled that she and her brother had reached out to Duterte as early as May that year to discuss possible electoral plans.</p><p>According to Imee, political alignments at the time were fluid, with separate moves from the PDP-Laban, which had its own slate, including Sen. Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>She said this contradicts Madriaga’s claim that Rodrigo Duterte persuaded his daughter to run as Marcos’ vice president under a pre-arranged deal.</p><p>&quot;Pero ang walanghiyang Madriaga na &#x27;yan, ang sabi a few months before November 21, nakumbinsi ni Bongbong si PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) na si Inday (Sara Duterte) ang maging VP sa kanya,” she said.</p><p>“Maliwanag na ang PDP may sariling lakad, may sariling mga kandidato. Hinding-hindi si Bongbong,” she added.</p><p>Imee said discussions moved to a group chat as early as September 7, even as the Go-Rodrigo tandem was pushed September 8. </p><p>&quot;Walang Bongbong, walang Sara. Ang sinungaling talaga. Pagkatapos, September 10, sabi nga duda na si Presidente o si Sara ay tatakbo. Sinabi ni mayora noon, na silang mag-ama may deal. Isa lang ang tatakbo sa kanila sa national. Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga claim nitong taong ito. Tapos in-endorse September 19. &quot;</p><p>She added that Marcos himself had publicly rejected any proposal for term-sharing in November 2021.</p><p>Despite her statements, Imee said she remains open to evaluating evidence should the impeachment case reach the Senate, where she may sit as a judge.</p><p>&quot;Pero sa aking tingin, wala naman &#x27;tong koneksyon at hindi naman yata bawal magsabi ng totoo,” she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/14/madriaga-weakest-link-in-impeachment-case-duterte-s-lawyer-claims-1708">Madriaga &#x27;weakest link&#x27; in impeachment case, Duterte&#x27;s lawyer claims</a></div><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/14/-wait-madriaga-claims-he-disposed-of-ovp-s-p125-m-confidential-funds-in-less-than-24-hours-1424">Madriaga claims he &#x27;disposed&#x27; of OVP&#x27;s P125-M confidential funds &#x27;in less than 24 hours&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/FzhSQyaqRfg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "shocked" by the claims made by self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, Malacañang said Wednesday, as they denied allegations of a supposed term-sharing deal and other plots raised in a sworn statement.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "shocked" by the claims made by self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, Malacañang said Wednesday, as they denied allegations of a supposed term-sharing deal and other plots raised in a sworn statement.

Marcos Jr ‘shocked’ by Madriaga's revelations; Palace denies ‘term-sharing’ deal as Imee rebuts allegations

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Marcos Jr ‘shocked’ by Madriaga's revelations; Palace denies ‘term-sharing’ deal as Imee rebuts allegations

RG Cruz,

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 15, 2026 05:11 PM PHT

|

Updated April 15, 2026 05:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Malacanang

Bongbong Marcos

term sharing

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.