Metro Manila, Philippines – The Taguig City prosecutor’s office has dismissed the perjury complaint filed by Vice President Sara Duterte against Ramil Madriaga, a self-confessed bagman, for “lack of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty to conviction.”
The resolution was signed on Sept. 2, but was only made available to the media on Thursday, Sept. 10 through Madriaga’s counsel, Raymund Palad.
Prosecutors said Duterte’s complaint had insufficient evidence.
“In fine, while complainant has presented evidence disputing respondent’s assertions, the evidence presently on record does not establish prima facie, with reasonable certainty of conviction, that respondent knowingly and willfully made materially false statements under oath in violation of Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code,” the resolution read.
Duterte’s complaint stemmed from Madriaga’s affidavit on Nov. 29, 2025, detailing his supposed ties with her, his participation in the presidential security group under former President Rodrigo Duterte and later on with the vice presidential security group, and his alleged participation in the handling of the vice president’s confidential funds.
The self-confessed bagman said he organized ISIP (Inday Sara Is My President) Pilipinas for a supposed presidential bid in 2022, which, he said, was funded by offshore gaming operators.
Madriaga later on testified at the House justice committee, the panel that scrutinized the impeachment complaints against Duterte.
Prosecutors said in the case of perjury, “the prosecutor must exercise sound discretion and ensure that the criminal process is not employed as a substitute for resolving factual controversies that are more appropriately addressed in the proceedings where those facts are directly in issue.”
They, however, noted that the dismissal of the complaint does not mean Madriaga’s affidavit is truthful nor the allegations were accurate.
“Neither should this resolution be construed as validating, invalidating, prejudging, or otherwise affecting the proceedings pending before the Office of the Ombudsman, the House of Representatives, the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, or any other tribunal exercising lawful jurisdiction over matters arising from the same or related factual circumstances,” the resolution read.
Madriaga was listed as a witness in the Duterte impeachment trial for alleged confidential fund misuse, but was eventually dropped by the prosecution from the list.
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the Office of the Vice President for comment.
