MANILA, Philippines — In a major development for the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, confessed “bagman” Ramil Madriaga has officially waived his bank secrecy rights. The move, announced Sunday, April 19, 2026, is being hailed by House leaders as the “smoking gun” that could transform personal testimony into verifiable evidence.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V stated that the voluntary waiver significantly boosts Madriaga’s credibility, potentially positioning him as the “star witness” if the case moves to a Senate trial. By opening his financial records to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Madriaga has invited scrutiny that few witnesses in high-profile political cases ever risk.
Madriaga, a former aide to the Vice President, alleges he served as a financial proxy or “dummy” for the Duterte family. His waiver authorizes investigators to examine at least six specific bank accounts:
- The List: Accounts at Chinabank (Legaspi Village, Ayala Avenue, and Makati Main), PNB (Metropolitan Avenue), and unidentified branches in Pasig City and Lubao, Pampanga.
- The “Laundering” Narrative: Madriaga claims these accounts were used to funnel “millions of pesos” for intelligence operations and campaign financing.
- The “Bagman” Role: Madriaga’s lawyer, Raymund Palad, clarified that his client often had no idea of the total amounts being deposited; he was simply instructed to make massive cash withdrawals.
In a 49-page supplemental affidavit, Madriaga detailed specific instances of high-volume cash handling that align with the impeachment complaints:
- ₱300 Million to Malacañang: Madriaga alleged he was ordered by former President Rodrigo Duterte to pick up ₱100 million on three separate occasions from a bank in Lubao and deliver the cash directly to the Palace.
- The 24-Hour Blitz: He claimed to have delivered ₱125 million in confidential funds to three different locations within a single 24-hour window in December 2022. This contradicts earlier reports that the funds were spent over 11 days.
- Foreign Influence: The witness further alleged that the Vice President’s 2022 campaign was partially bankrolled by Chinese businessmen, including an executive from a pharmaceutical company.
Political analysts suggest that the bank waiver shifts the narrative from “he-said-she-said” to a forensic investigation.
- Tracing the Paper Trail: Experts from Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Makati noted that the waiver allows the House to potentially establish a direct financial link between Madriaga’s accounts and the Vice President’s office.
- Pressure to Respond: As unrefuted allegations begin to “acquire the weight of presumed truth,” analysts say Vice President Duterte may soon be forced to confront the House Justice Committee directly rather than relying on constitutional challenges.
- The One-Year Bar: While the Supreme Court nullified a previous impeachment attempt last year due to the “one-year bar” rule, supporters of the current case argue that the new evidence of financial misconduct falls outside those previous restrictions.
Vice President Sara Duterte has consistently denied all wrongdoing, with her legal team continuing to challenge the constitutionality of the proceedings. However, with a “star witness” now offering full access to his financial history, the political temperature in Manila continues to rise.