NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Wednesday confirmed that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte has visited her self-confessed bagman, Ramil Madriaga, and former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves in jail.
He made the confirmation in answer to questions raised by Negros Oriental Rep. Janice Degamo, whose husband was assassinated in March 2023.
Teves is facing charges in connection with such murder, while Madriaga is a respondent in a kidnapping case.
Matibag said the NBI investigated the reported visit of the Vice President in Camp Bagong Diwa, where Madriaga and Teves are detained, in October last year.
He said VP Duterte initially tried to visit Madriaga but that when the latter refused to see her, she instead visited Teves.
“Nag-imbestiga kami sa visit na ‘yan. We have established that on two occasions, Vice President Sara Duterte visited BJMP in Camp Baggong Diwa initially trying to visit Ramil Madriaga,” he told Degamo.
“But we were informed by Madriaga that ayaw niya, ayaw niya humarap. At the same time, nung nangyari ‘yun, ang pinuntahan niya ay si Arnie Teves po,” he said.
Degamo sought from Matibag proof of the alleged visits.
“May ebidensya po ba tayo? Kasi palagi nating sinasabi, dapat may resibo. In fairness to the VP, we need to show to the public na hindi lang po ito gawa-gawa na statement na nag-visit siya, hindi lang ito sinisiraan siya, kaya sinasabi na she visited. Maaari po kaya nating ma-include bilang evidence or pieces of evidence that indeed there was a visit that took place?” she asked.
Matibag said the visitations were confirmed by the former jail warden.
“In fact, the NBI is requesting for the CCTV even before. But we have reports, may official report kami na nangyari yung pagbisita. And we are also issuing, nag-issue kami ng subpoena to get the logbook po ng mga bumisita (sa jail),” he said.
The NBI chief also said there was a reported attempt to harm Madriaga and that the NBI investigated it.
“There was a report of an attempt to harm Mr. Madraiga in one occasion and nagpadala po kami ng mga investigating officers doon from NBI at na-establish po na meron po talagang isang detained prisoner duon na bagong lipat pa lang ay nag-attempt na saktan po si Mr. Madriaga,” he said.
Aside from claiming he is a “bagman” of VP Duterte, Madriaga has also alleged he is a dummy of former President Rodrigo Duterte in several bank accounts.
Degamo said she and her constituents were particularly interested in whether the Vice President visited Teves, the principal suspect in her husband’s murder.
“And kung may katotohanan po ang sinasabi ni Madriaga na pinuntahan siya at siya ang target ng pagpunta kay Teves, dapat po maliwanagan ‘yung aming mga kababayan in Negros Oriental, she said.
“We are not here to accuse without basis. We are here to seek answers, not only for our family but for all Filipinos who deserve leaders they can trust,” Degamo said.
