Duterte Impeachment: House subpoenas Ramil Madriaga; Sara Duterte absent, calls to dismiss complaints
The House Committee on Justice has subpoenaed Ramil Madriaga and his affidavit crucial to the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, who was absent from the hearing and called for the dismissal of the complaints. Her legal counsel, Michael Poa, has expressed willingness to comply with the subpoena.
The House Committee on Justice issued a subpoena on March 25, 2026, for Ramil Madriaga, a self-confessed bagman who accused Vice President Sara Duterte of receiving campaign funds through him, along with his sworn affidavit. The committee, chaired by Rep. Chel Diokno, also approved protective custody and additional security for Madriaga by a vote of 35-1 or 34-1 on key motions. Vice President Sara Duterte was absent from the hearing, with her legal counsel Michael Poa stating her non-attendance was a strategy to assess evidence without compelled appearance, while also calling for the dismissal of the complaints. The panel subpoenaed Duterte's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from her time as Davao City mayor (2007-2013), earlier Vice President/Deputy Prime Minister role (2016-2022), and current Vice President tenure (2022-2025) from the Office of the Ombudsman. They also sought records from the National Bureau of Investigation regarding Duterte's alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The hearings represent the committee's four-day proper proceedings after finding sufficient grounds for impeachment complaints, with witnesses expected to address bank deposits and other allegations of unexplained wealth. The impeachment complaints center on allegations of corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other constitutional violations during Duterte's political career.
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