VP Sara Duterte files perjury suit against 'bagman' Madriaga; two impeachment raps found 'sufficient in substance'
Vice President Sara Duterte has filed a perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga for his claims of handling drug money during her 2022 election campaign. This comes as the House Committee on Justice declared two impeachment complaints against the Vice President "sufficient in substance," signaling that proceedings will move forward and require her response within 10 days.
Vice President Sara Duterte filed a perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga on March 4, 2026, at the Taguig City Prosecutor's Office. Madriaga, who Duterte describes as her alleged former aide, claimed in a notarized affidavit in late 2025 that he served as her 'bagman' and personally delivered large sums of cash from drug syndicates and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to fund her 2022 vice presidential campaign. Duterte categorically denied any personal or professional relationship with Madriaga, stating she had never given him instructions of any kind and presented certifications from the Davao City government to support her claim that Madriaga was never on her staff.
The House Committee on Justice has declared two impeachment complaints against Duterte 'sufficient in form and substance,' with Madriaga's affidavit serving as central evidence. The impeachment complaints include allegations of misuse of approximately 612 million pesos during her tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education, corruption charges, threats against government officials, and discrepancies in her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). Once Duterte provides her response within 10 days, the committee will assess whether probable cause exists to endorse Articles of Impeachment to the House plenary.
Duterte was accompanied by her legal counsel, Paolo Panelo Jr., in filing the perjury complaint. She described Madriaga's allegations as 'fabricated stories' and argued that he was being used by political opponents to bolster impeachment complaints. Duterte also characterized Madriaga as an accused in a kidnapping case who allegedly pretended to be a campaign supporter before surfacing as a witness.
Madriaga's legal team has disputed Duterte's denial, asserting that invitations, videos, screenshots, testimonies, and public declarations illustrate previous interactions between them. They stated that Madriaga served as a specialized trainer and schoolmate of the Vice President at San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila, and noted that he is open to all investigations and ready to fully cooperate. The perjury case marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political controversy surrounding the Vice President as impeachment proceedings move forward in Congress.
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