IMPEACHMENT witness Ramil Madriaga alleged that his direct relationship with Vice President Sara Z. Duterte began after he was personally introduced to her by her father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, during a meeting in Davao City.
In a sworn supplemental affidavit, Madriaga said the introduction happened sometime in 2018 at Duterte’s residence on Taal Street, Bangkal, where the former president was discussing local political plans with his daughter.
“Sometime in 2018, PRRD asked Sara to go to his home in Taal St., Bangkal, Davao City to discuss the upcoming local elections in Davao City where Sara was going to run for re-election as Mayor. During this meeting, PRRD introduced me to Sara and told me ‘Ram, ikaw na bahala kay Inday,’” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said that from that point on, his interactions with the Vice President became direct and regular.
“Since then, I have frequently met and discussed with Sara regarding various matters,” he said.
He added that the Vice President imposed specific communication protocols in their dealings.
“However, she gave me strict instructions that all conversations should be done, as much as possible, by call, and minimize text messages,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga traced his connection to the Duterte family to the period leading up to the 2016 national elections, when he said he was working for former congressman Rolio Golez as a political officer specializing in intelligence gathering and sabotage operations.
He said Golez later decided to support Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential bid and introduced him to Duterte at the latter’s Davao City residence, describing him as a trusted operative and “number one asset” during Golez’s time as National Security Adviser.
Madriaga said that after Duterte became president, he was directed to serve as a counter-intelligence agent for the National Security Council, although he was not formally employed by any government agency.
“However, I was never under the employ of the Office of the President or any government agency. Instead, I was directly employed by PRRD,” he said.
He said he received monthly cash payments ranging from P100,000 to P150,000 from a certain Canlas, whom he described as a Philippine National Police officer previously assigned in Davao.
Madriaga also claimed that among his tasks was to monitor and conduct operations against former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, although he said Duterte was hesitant to order his assassination due to Trillanes’ military connections.
He said the former president also tasked him to profile individuals surrounding Sara, whom he described as the former president’s preferred political successor.
“PRRD wanted Sara in politics instead of Paolo Duterte (‘Polong’) and Sebastian Duterte (‘Baste’) who he characterized as ‘baliw’ and ‘bading,’ respectively,” Madriaga said.
Following his introduction to Sara Duterte, Madriaga said he later became involved in political and organizational work tied to her.
He said that in 2020, he was instructed by Rodrigo Duterte and Sara Duterte to help establish Initiative for Social Justice, Innovation, and Progress Pilipinas, or ISIP Pilipinas, Inc., a group formed to support her expected candidacy for president in the 2022 elections.
“But to us supporters of Sara, ISIP actually stands for ‘Inday Sara is My President,’” Madriaga said.
He said he helped organize ISIP with friends and allies of Sara Duterte, including Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Rey Quilala and his wife, Aurea Fortuna Quilala, both affiliated with San Sebastian College of Law.
Madriaga also claimed that large amounts of cash were funneled into the group’s operations, including P175 million linked to Lin Wei Xiong, whom he identified as the Financial Officer of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals, and another P100 million from Maestrado Lim, whom he said they referred to as “Tanda.”
He said that when Sara Duterte later decided not to run for president and instead became the vice presidential running mate of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., members of ISIP expressed frustration, but he continued to assist in her campaign.
Madriaga said his involvement continued even after Sara Duterte assumed the vice presidency, including attending her inauguration on June 19, 2022 at San Pedro Square in Davao City and later participating in work connected to the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group.
His affidavit culminates in a direct challenge to Duterte’s earlier denial that she had any relationship with him.
“However, her denial of any affiliation with me is absolutely false. She lied under oath in her Perjury Complaint against me,” Madriaga said
