Metro Manila, Philippines – The controversial ₱125-million confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte was “disposed” in less than 24 hours, her self-confessed bagman said, while a state auditor said Duterte should return millions in disallowed funds.
Ramil Madriaga, who claimed to be the vice president’s former aide, detailed the allegation in his supplemental affidavit presented to the House justice committee on April 14.
“I read from several media reports that the ₱125-million OVP confidential funds in 2022 were reportedly utilized in just eleven days. This is wrong because I personally disposed of the money in less than 24 hours,” he told lawmakers.
Recipients
Madriaga said millions in cash went to a number of people in different locations, including the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, which was then led by Samuel Martires.
He said the cash – supposedly in four large bags – was delivered in less than 24 hours, upon Duterte’s orders. Each bag supposedly contained ₱30 to ₱35 million.
- first: evening delivery to Cabuyao, Laguna for a politician
- second: midnight delivery to a comedy bar in Quezon City
- third and fourths: morning delivery to Office of the Ombudsman
The funds supposedly came from Gina Acosta, OVP special disbursing officer, with Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former head of the vice presidential security and protection group.
Madriaga also tagged the former ombudsman as recipients upon orders.
“Previously and upon direct instructions of PRRD [President Rodrigo Duterte] or Sara, I have also delivered money to Ombudsman Samuel Martires or Atty. Ryan which I usually placed inside an open trunk of a designated car,” he said, pertaining to the ombudsman assistant prosecutor.
In a statement, Paolo Panelo, Duterte’s legal counsel, said Madriaga’s testimony proved their remarks that he was the weakest link in the impeachment case.
“As expected, Madriaga failed to address because he could not address the clear and convincing evidence presented by the vice president in the perjury complaint that proves he is a fraud,” he said.
“Further, he only presented evidence on irrelevant and immaterial matters, including those already debunked in the perjury complaint; with his core allegations of cash deliveries and instructions through phone calls on prepaid phones conveniently and fatally unverifiable,” Panelo said.
Return the money
Meanwhile, the Commission on Audit (COA) has denied the appeal of Duterte on the notice of disallowance previously issued against the agency on at least ₱73.2 million in OVP confidential funds.
The period covers Dec. 21 to Dec. 31, 2022, said state auditor Gloria Camora who testified before the committee.
The disallowed portions are part of the ₱125 million in confidential funds that the OVP liquidated in 11 days.
“Ang ibig po bang sabihin nito… dapat ibalik ng mga opisyal na iyon ang ₱73 million na confidential funds,” Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno asked Camora, to which she agreed.
[Translation: This means that officials should return ₱73 million in confidential funds?]
Camora said the COA issued disallowance on OVP confidential funds in the first three quarters of 2023 worth ₱375 million.
“It’s clear that the consequence of the denial of the appeal, and the issuance of the corresponding notice of disallowances is the obligation to restitute, in Filipino, ibalik ang pera, [return the money] that is ₱73 million for the 2022 fourth quarter and ₱375 million for the three quarters in 2023,” panel chairperson Jinky Luistro said.
Camora said the COA specifically ordered the vice president, the special disbursing officer, and the chief accountant to return the money.
Questionable signatures
Meanwhile, forensic experts from the National Bureau of Investigation disclosed in the hearing that some acknowledgment receipts from supposed beneficiaries of confidential funds were written by the same people.
Carolyn Pitoy, said only seven people may have signed in at least 36 receipts.
“There are seven groups of handwritten receipts that were found to be written by one and the same person. Pitong magkakagrupo po, na bawat grupo, isang tao lang ang sumulat,” she said.
[Translation: There are seven groups of handwritten receipts that were found to be written by one and the same person…There are seven groups, and in each group, the receipts were written by only one person.]
The NBI clarified that the 36 receipts are just the ones requested by the House to verify.
Luistro said the committee has exhausted questions about the confidential funds, with the next hearing to focus on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth and threats to the presidential family – the remaining issues in the impeachment suits.
