Metro Manila, Philippines – A lawmaker asked the House justice committee to take custody of Ramil Madriaga, the alleged bagman of Vice President Sara Duterte, while another flagged a possible conflict of interest on the defense team.
In a letter dated March 5 released to the media on Thursday, March 12, Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno wrote to committee chairperson and Batangas 2nd district Rep. Jinky Luistro about the issue.
“May I also move that the custody of Mr. Ramil Lagunoy Madriaga, who appears to be a material witness in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, be transferred to the committee on justice, to ensure his safety and availability to testify before the Committee at the proper time,” Diokno wrote.
Fellow Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao signed the letter as well.
Last week, Madriaga’s counsel said their client was threatened by a fellow inmate at the detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Madriaga said he delivered duffle bags of cash to a number of people on orders of Duterte and her security aide.
The vice president denied the claims, and later on filed a perjury complaint against the alleged bagman.
Diokno also urged the committee to produce records of Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth from 2007 to 2013, 2013 to 2016, and 2022 to 2025 – or from the first time she held public office.
To evaluate accusations of unexplained wealth, the lawmaker asked the Anti Money Laundering Council to certify whether it has any records involving covered and or suspicious transactions linked to Duterte and her husband, Mans Reyes Carpio.
Diokno also wanted records from the National Bureau of Investigation regarding its probe on the “kill” remarks Duterte made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez at a midnight briefing in 2024.
Two impeachment suits cited betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, and high crimes, among others over a number of allegations including fund misuse, threats to the presidential family, and unexplained wealth.
Conflict of interest
Meanwhile, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon flagged a possible conflict of interest on some of the members of Duterte’s legal team.
The defense team – composed of 16 lawyers – submitted its formal entry of appearance to the House justice panel, received on March 7.
Two of her lawyers were her former spokesmen Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac.
Munsayac was spokesman of the Office of the Vice President in 2022, while Poa served the same post and was undersecretary for the Department of Education (DepEd), which Duterte led until July 2024.
Ridon said the inclusion of Poa and Munsayac in the defense team raises “serious ethical and procedural questions if these lawyers possess firsthand knowledge of the transactions or decisions under scrutiny.”
“As DepEd spokesperson at the time, Mr. Poa was the official who repeatedly explained and defended the use of confidential funds before the public and the media,” said Ridon.
“That position places him close to the policy decisions and internal processes governing the use of those funds. It also means he may possess material information relevant to the impeachment complaints,” he added.
Ridon also flagged Munsayac as former education assistant secretary for procurement, whom he said “may likewise possess knowledge relevant to the investigation into the confidential funds and DepEd procurement.”
He said the two should serve as witnesses rather than counsel if impeachment proceedings would expose that they have relevant knowledge on the charges.
Duterte’s defense team has yet to comment on Ridon’s remarks.
