MANILA, Philippines – A man identifying himself as a former “bagman” and aide of Vice President Sara Duterte alleged that the ₱125 million confidential funds under her office were not depleted over 11 days, as previously reported, but were instead exhausted within just 24 hours.
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| Photo courtesy: Screenshot from House of Representatives, Inday Sara Duterte (Facebook) |
During a hearing of the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Ramil Madriaga presented testimony detailing his claims, citing the 74th paragraph of his sworn affidavit.
Madriaga stated that while earlier reports suggested the confidential funds were spent over an 11-day period, this account was inaccurate. He insisted that he had personal knowledge of how the funds were handled, claiming that the entire amount was disbursed within a single day.
According to Madriaga, his role at the time placed him in direct involvement with the transactions, leading him to assert that the rapid depletion of funds occurred within 24 hours rather than over several days.
“A few years later, I read from several media reports that the One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Pesos (PhP125,000,000.00) OVP confidential funds in 2022 were reportedly utilized in just eleven (11) days. This is wrong because I personally disposed the money in less than twenty-four (24) hours,” he said, based on his sworn affidavit.
The claims add another layer of controversy to ongoing scrutiny over the use of confidential and intelligence funds, as lawmakers continue to examine transparency and accountability in government expenditures.
Prior to this, it can be recalled that VP Sara’s camp already filed a perjury case against Madriaga because of his claims and exposes.
As of writing, the camp of Vice President Duterte has yet to issue an official statement addressing the allegations raised during the hearing.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express