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Office of the Ombudsman main building. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Office of the Ombudsman

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177632215638720171108-office-ombudsman-main-MD-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Office of the Ombudsman main building. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>(UPDATED) The Office of the Ombudsman issued a show-cause order to Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Quilala following allegations by Ramil Madriaga during a House hearing that he delivered money to Quilala, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/15/sara-duterte-says-madriaga-cannot-even-weave-a-believable-lie-0947">&#x27;They cannot even weave a believable lie&#x27;: Sara Duterte takes issue with Madriaga&#x27;s law school claims</a></div>“We are asking him to explain kung ano yung side niya or defense niya dun sa mga allegations na linabas ni Ramil Madriaga,” Clavano said on Thursday.   &quot;We will make sure na yung mga ganyang k&#x27;wento, we get to the bottom of it, understand kung ano talaga nangyari, and then we will resolve on that basis,” he added. Madriaga, who identified himself as Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s former aide and alleged bagman, claimed that he had gotten close with Quilala, who was supposedly Duterte&#x27;s former professor. Quilala was given 48 hours from receipt of the order to submit an explanation. The office said failure to do so may be construed as an admission of the allegations. “You are reminded that any proof of your participation in the alleged illegal activities with Mr. Madriaga may subject you to administrative and criminal prosecution. This includes, but is not limited to, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713),” the order read. Quilala remains employed at the Office of the Ombudsman, Clavano confirmed. MARTIRES&#x27; ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT The office is also having &quot;internal discussions&quot; over allegations made by Madriaga against former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, Clavano said. Madriaga earlier stated in his supplemental affidavit that in December 2022, two bags containing up to P35 million each were allegedly delivered to the parking lot of the Office of the Ombudsman, then headed by Martires. “It’s a grave allegation it’s something we believe is worth looking into. However, the allegations against Atty. Ryan Quilala form our monitoring of the impeachment hearing seems to be much deeper. Tapos may mga pictures pa, may mga videos. So yun po yung inuna natin ngayon,” he said. Clavano said the Ombudsman will assess Madriaga’s credibility after it is able to confront him in person after the House hearings. “Ayaw din namin magulo na nandyan na nga siya, nagtetestify siya sa House, tapos kami din so it might be a little bit confusing for Mr. Madriaga. So uunahin muna natin, or papuunahin natin yung House, tsaka natin siya kakausapin,” he said. Madriaga’s affidavit, which contains multiple allegations against Duterte, was previously consolidated by the Ombudsman with other complaints filed against the vice president. When asked about the Commission on Audit’s Notice of Disallowance (ND) ordering the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to return P73.287 million in confidential funds spent in 2022, Clavano said it has “probative” value but noted that the office has not yet received a copy of the document. Clavano said the office has also received the subpoena from the House Committee on Justice and said it intends to appear at the scheduled April 22 hearing. “We will be there to offer whatever information that we have to the House Committee,” he said. CASES VS ‘MASTER PLUNDERERS’ IN THE WORKS Meanwhile, Clavano said the Ombudsman’s investigation into two individuals he described as “master plunderers” of flood control anomalies is in the works. “Ang gusto talaga namin ay quality over any specific timeline that we may give. Pero malapit na po ‘yan. There are senators, congressmen, and yung dalawang masterminds or master plunderers na sinasabi ni Ombudsman,” Clavano said. When asked who the “two master plunderers” were, Clavano identified them as the “former House Speaker” and the “former Senate President.” It can be recalled that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said the agency is already at the “tail end” of the fact-finding stage on a plunder case expected to be filed in May against former Senate President Chiz Escudero and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. GABONADA’S SALN Clavano said they are still waiting on the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of former House of Representatives Deputy Secretary General Sofonias &quot;Ponyong&quot; Gabonada Jr., who is under investigation for involvement in infrastructure project anomalies. The office was able to obtain the SALN of 26 House lawmakers who are also under investigation for their possible involvement in anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects. “Yung first 26, we have already assigned them to the investigative teams to do lifestyle checks as well as further investigation. Ito po yung mga contractor na sinasabi natin. So the 26 SALNs that we were able to obtain are a result of intelligence that we&#x27;ve received that certain congressmen are also contractors,” he said.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/99azAP66nZk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a show-cause order to Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Quilala following corruption allegations at a recent hearing of the House Committee on Justice, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Thursday.

The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a show-cause order to Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Quilala following corruption allegations at a recent hearing of the House Committee on Justice, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Thursday.

Ombudsman issues show-cause order vs Ryan Quilala following Madriaga allegations

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Ombudsman issues show-cause order vs Ryan Quilala following Madriaga allegations

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 16, 2026 03:02 PM PHT

|

Updated April 16, 2026 05:35 PM PHT

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Ryan Quilala

Ramil Madriaga

Ombudsman

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