TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has officially filed a perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga, the man who claimed last year that he served as her “bagman” for drug money during the 2022 election campaign.
Madriaga previously submitted an affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman alleging that he delivered large sums of money to various individuals under Duterte’s instructions. These claims were subsequently used as part of the impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President in the House of Representatives.
Accompanied by her lawyer, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., Duterte filed the 340-page complaint at the Taguig City prosecutor’s office on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
- Denial of Ties: Duterte maintained she has no personal or professional relationship with Madriaga. She claimed she only learned of him through a campaign supporter group called ISIP Pilipinas (“Inday Sara Is my President”).
- Assassination Claim: In a startling escalation, the Vice President tagged Madriaga as a member of a “kidnap-for-ransom group” that she alleges was plotting to assassinate her in 2024.
- Comparison to Father’s Cases: Duterte compared Madriaga’s testimony to those used by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, calling them “fabricated” and “bought.”
Madriaga’s lawyer, Mark Anthony Te, stood by the truthfulness of the original affidavit. He questioned the timing of the perjury suit, noting the affidavit was notarized in November 2025.
- Intimidation Warning: Te warned that perjury complaints should not be used as a “tool” to silence whistleblowers or critics during active impeachment proceedings.
The case adds a new layer of legal complexity to the ongoing impeachment process and the broader political landscape in the Philippines.