‘Madriaga testimony crucial in VP Sara’s impeach case’

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February 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The possible testimony of the alleged former bagman of Vice President Sara Duterte would be crucial in the two impeachment complaints filed against her in the House of Representatives, a lawmaker indicated yesterday.

Rep. Terry Ridon, chairman of the House committee on public accounts, is also hoping that self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga can finally shed light on the real identities of Duterte’s supposed informants including “Mary Grace Piattos,” who received hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds.

“If Mr. Madriaga knows something about the bogus names of these purported confidential informants, then perhaps it would be high time for him to provide us clarity on this issue, especially since VP Duterte has been skirting this issue for a very long time,” Ridon said.

In his sworn affidavit, Madriaga claimed Duterte’s May 2022 vice presidential campaign was bankrolled by drug traffickers as well as Philippine offshore gaming operators.

Over the weekend, Madriaga’s counsel Raymund Palad said his client is ready to face the impeachment process against Duterte and is willing to appear before Congress, the Senate or the Office of the Ombudsman as soon as summonses are issued.

Madriaga is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

“Yes, he expressed willingness (to testify). As soon as he receives a subpoena or summons, or is called to testify, then he will make himself available and personally appear,” Palad said.

“Madriaga himself knows the procedure because he used to be a law student. And he knows that if you have executed an affidavit, then both houses of Congress can call you to testify on matters that you have presented,” he said.

Ridon said Madriaga’s testimony could be crucial in clarifying who “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Kokoy Villamin,” and other questionable names actually are, after lawmakers flagged supposed beneficiaries linked to some P612 million in confidential funds.

Duterte is facing two impeachment complaints in the House – first filed by the progressive Makabayan bloc and second with the civil society group Tindig Pilipinas, headed by the nephew of the late president Noynoy Aquino, Kiko Aquino-Dee.

Ridon noted that Madriaga – described as an insider familiar with the handling of confidential funds – may help explain how such names entered official liquidation documents submitted by the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education to the Commission on Audit.

“If Mr. Madriaga knows the process, the handlers, and the real persons behind these entries, then his account can help close the gaps that continue to trouble this issue,” Ridon said.

It was the late former police general and veteran lawmaker Romeo Acop of Antipolo City who flagged the controversial “Mary Grace Piattos” issue.

Ridon stressed that many of the names flagged by the House do not match any official birth, marriage or death records from the Philippine Statistics Authority, deepening doubts about the legitimacy of the listed beneficiaries.

“Public funds come with public accountability. If these names are bogus, then someone must answer for how they were created, approved and liquidated,” he said.