‘She smiled and waved’: Madriaga says VP Sara visited him in detention
IMPEACHMENT resource persons Ramil L. Madriaga said Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before him at a detention facility in 2025 and later spoke to him by phone, an encounter he cited to refute her denial that she had no personal or professional relationship with him.
In a sworn supplemental affidavit, Madriaga said the incident took place sometime in October 2025 after he was arrested on kidnapping charges and detained at Annex 2 of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
“Sometime in October 2025 after I got arrested for alleged kidnapping, I was called by Jail Warden Jose Marie Sabiniano (‘Sabiniano’) in his office,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said that as he was making his way to the office, he saw the Vice President.
“As I made my way to the office of Jail Warden Sabiniano, I was surprised to see Sara through the metal railings of the passageway. She smiled and waved at me,” he said.
Madriaga said that upon entering the office, Sabiniano asked him if he knew “Atty. Joyce,” to which he replied, “Joyce Dapat?” He said the jail warden then handed him a phone.
“When I said ‘Hello’, I recognized the voice of Sara and she asked me about my well-being and conditions inside the detention facility. She was also apologetic for failing to do something or assist me in my ongoing criminal case,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said the interaction left him feeling betrayed, given what he described as years of support for Duterte and her family.
“More importantly, I felt betrayed that despite all my efforts to support Sara—to the extent of even committing high-risk acts for her and her family—she did not lift a finger to stop Atty. Roque, who is her known ally and supporter, from filing the unfounded kidnapping case against me,” he said.
Madriaga was referring to former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, whom he accused of filing the case in retaliation after he attempted to expose alleged land-grabbing activities in Mariveles, Bataan.
“Frankly, I felt bad and disappointed given that Atty. Harry Roque (‘Roque’) filed the case against me in retaliation after I tried to expose his land-grabbing activities in Mariveles, Bataan, together with his Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (‘POGO’) partners,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said the issue stemmed from his involvement with a group of farmers in Bataan whom he met during activities of Initiative for Social Justice, Innovation, and Progress Pilipinas, or ISIP Pilipinas, Inc., a group he said he helped establish to support Duterte’s political campaign.
He said the farmers sought assistance over alleged land-grabbing incidents involving First Bataan Mariveles Holdings Corporation.
“As I previously mentioned, I was merely trying to assist the farmers of the said area who were supposed to be awarded their Certificate of Land Ownership Award by the Department of Agrarian Reform but fell victim to Atty. Roque’s activities,” he said.
Madriaga said he later raised the issue with Duterte and even brought the farmers to one of her residences in Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, but she declined to meet them after learning which company was involved.
“When I mentioned to Sara that First Bataan Mariveles Holdings Corporation is the one involved in the land grabbing incidents, she told me that she cannot do anything and that she will no longer meet with the group of farmers,” he said.
He also named Danny Corral, whom he identified as president and chief executive officer of First Bataan Mariveles Holdings Corporation, and alleged that Corral was also an incorporator of Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, Inc. and Lucky South 99 Corp., which he said were involved in POGO operations in Pampanga.
“In fact, Danny Corral, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Bataan Mariveles Holdings Corporation is also an incorporator of Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, Inc. and Lucky South 99 Corp. which were involved in POGO operations in Pampanga,” Madriaga said.
Madriaga said the October 2025 encounter and phone call underscored what he described as a direct and personal relationship with Duterte, contradicting her earlier denial.
“However, her denial of any affiliation with me is absolutely false. She lied under oath in her Perjury Complaint against me,” he said.
Madriaga’s affidavit presents the detention encounter as part of a broader pattern of interactions, including meetings, calls, and assignments, that he said directly involved the Vice President over several years.
