Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said the sworn affidavit of Ramil Madriaga, who identified himself as a former security aide and alleged “bagman” of Vice President Sara Duterte, serves as the “missing link” in efforts to trace how confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) may have been spent.
Madriaga was present at the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday during the second deliberations on the impeachment complaints against the Vice President and claimed that the OVP spent the confidential funds not in 11 days, but in less than 24 hours.
Chua, who also serves as counsel for the complainants in the third impeachment complaint, said Madriaga’s statement helps clarify questions surrounding the alleged movement of the P125 million confidential funds of the OVP and the Vice President.
“Unang-una po na marami po tayong mga bagong narinig dito, mga revelations. Kung maalala po ninyo, nung nakaraang committee hearing kung saan ang inyong lingkod po ay naging chairman ng Committee on Good Government, ito pong issue sa confidential fund ay na-cover natin,” Chua said, referring to earlier congressional hearings.
He added that lawmakers had previously raised questions on where the funds went after they were withdrawn by disbursing officers and handed over to military officials.
“Halimbawa po, marami po nagtatanong bakit, saan napunta pagkatapos ibigay yung pondo, pagkatapos i-withdraw ng SDO, Acosta at Fajarda, pagkabigay po kay Col. Lachica at Col. Nolasco, saan na napunta yung pondo,” he said.
Chua said Madriaga’s affidavit provides an account of what allegedly happened next, claiming the funds were distributed and spent not in 11 days, but in less than 24 hours.
“So ito yung lumalabas. Dito po pala Madriaga napunta at siya po yung nag-distribute. And apparently sinasabi niya na hindi daw 11 days inubos yung nasabing confidential fund, but goes in less than 24 hours,” he said.
“So ito yung parang masasabi natin na missing link doon sa kwento ng confidential fund,” he added.
Chua also noted that OVP disbursing officer Gina Acosto had earlier testified before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, where she said the funds were turned over to Col. Raymund Lachina and placed in four travelling bags.
Following this, Chua said questions persisted on where the money went after it was handed over, but he said Madriaga’s affidavit now provides additional details that form part of the evidence being presented against Duterte in the impeachment proceedings.
Duterte faces multiple allegations, including the alleged misuse of public funds and threats she made during a late-night livestream in 2024 to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
