Of all accusations, Sara Duterte pushes back on claim she lacks smarts

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At the latest House impeachment hearing, Ramil Madriaga claims he was told Vice President Sara Duterte 'was not particularly good in school' and 'was often struggling with her academics'

Throughout her vice presidency, Sara Duterte has faced a cascade of accusations – misuse of public funds, a threat against the President, and enabling state-sanctioned killings in her hometown.

Most of them she has brushed aside, often with blanket denials.

But one allegation appears to have touched a nerve: a suggestion that she lacked the intellect to get through law school on her own.

On Wednesday, April 15, Duterte pushed back at her self-confessed bagman’s claim that she struggled with her schooling.

Ramil Madriaga appeared before the House justice committee on Tuesday, April 14, for the first time, dropping one bombshell after another against the vice president: that he exhausted P125 million in confidential funds in less than a day allegedly on her instruction; that her 2022 campaign was supposedly funded by a Pharmally boss; that her father allegedly entertained the idea of assassinating the president for her benefit; and that her husband was allegedly behind the seizure of shabu-filled magnetic lifters in 2018.

In his 24-page affidavit, excluding annexes, Madriaga also recalled a conversation with Ryan Rey Quilala, who supposedly had close ties to the Dutertes. Quilala was once an assistant special prosecutor at the Ombudsman, and was associate dean of the San Sebastian College-Recoletos College of Law when Sara was still a student. 

“He shared with me that Sara was not particularly good in school, was often struggling with her academics, and was habitually rude and violent to other students. Hence, Attorney Ryan used his influence in SSC-Law to ensure that Sara received passing grades despite her poor academic performance,” Madriaga said, reading his supplemental affidavit.

Duterte rejected these claims. 

“I completed my studies on my own terms,” Duterte said in a statement, adding she prioritized a “well-rounded life” over academic distinction and did not seek special treatment in law school.

She said she graduated in May 2005 from SSC-Recoletos College of Law and took the bar examination in September of the same year, passing on her first attempt with a general weighted average of 80.

Duterte also rejected allegations of misconduct during her time in law school, saying she was never the subject of complaints involving rudeness or violence against other students.

It’s an uncharacteristically detailed denial from the Vice President. 

Can she now also do the same for the more pressing, critical issues? 

– with reports from Herbie Gomez/Rappler.com