Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima believes that the alleged "visits" of Vice President Sara Duterte to the prison holding Ramil Lagunoy Madriaga--if proven--could establish a connection between them.

De Lima had this to say Saturday, Dec. 20, even as she was perplexed by the Vice President's continued silence on the leak of details online from Madriaga's affidavit earlier this month.

Madriaga--who is being held at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicutan, Taguig City--has claimed that then-Davao City mayor Duterte's election campaign in 2022 was bankrolled by money coming from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), and drug syndicates.

"If the reported visits are confirmed, it is only proper to include them in the investigation, especially if Madriaga claims that the Vice President’s purpose was to stop him from releasing his exposé. Those alleged visits could lend weight to Madriaga’s testimony," De Lima said.

"Kung binisita sya sa kulungan, ibig sabihin, magkakilala talaga sila. Dapat ding siyasatin kung ano ang kanilang napag-usapan, lalo na kung may kinalaman sa kanyang sinumpaang salaysay," said the former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary.

(If she visited him in jail, that means they really knew each other. It must also be investigated what they talked about, especially if it relates to his sworn statement.)

De Lima said she personally interviewed Madriaga--a supposed former Duterte administration intelligence officer--in the presence of the latter's counsel lawyer Raymond Palad last Dec. 8 at BJMP. While she wanted to see more evidence from Madriaga, De Lima said his affidavit was duly executed.

"Ang tanong: Bakit hindi pa nagsasalita si VP Sara tungkol dito? Kahit man lang sa issue ng connection ni Madriaga sa kanya, tikom ang kanyang bibig (The question is: Why has VP Sara not spoken about this yet? Even just on the issue of Madriaga’s connection to her, she has remained silent.). Her silence on Madriaga’s claims is deafening," the congresswoman said.

Madriaga also claimed that he acted as courier for cash deliveries ordered by Vice President Duterte. The amounts delivered were in the tens of millions.

"Sa bigat ng akusasyon ni Madriaga, dapat may kaakibat ding matibay na ebidensya (Given the gravity of Madriaga’s accusations, there must also be strong evidence to support them)," De Lima said. She noted that his mobile phones could provide such additional proof.

Two weeks ago, De Lima told a news forum in Quezon City that Madriaga rejected the visits from Vice President Duterte. Palad corroborated this detail in a subsequent press conference.

Palad said the Vice President allegedly went twice to Madriaga’s detention cell. During the first visit, the lady official supposedly suggested that they discuss the problems Madriaga were facing and promised to speak to the judge handling the case.

But Madriaga turned down the offer because there was already a group helping with his case, the lawyer said.

Palad also claimed that the Vice President Duterte allegedly went again to BJMP Bicutan last Oct. 19 at around midnight. The reason for this particular visit was not clear.

According to Palad, several individuals had also allegedly reached out to Madriaga’s family out of concern that his statements might be used against the Vice President. Despite this, the lawyer stressed that it was Madriaga’s own decision to speak about what he knew.

Madriaga reportedly wrote to Senator Risa Hontiveros in March 2024, but was allegedly not given the opportunity. He also reportedly wrote to the House quad-committee (quad-comm) but again was not given the chance to speak.

Palad said he had also asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a forensic analysis on Madriaga’s mobile phones. He said this can help substantiate his client's claims.

"The subject of this request involves three (3) mobile phones owned by Mr. Madriaga which were previously confiscated in connection with the criminal case entitled People of the Philippines v. Ramil L. Madriaga, et al. docketed as Crim. Case No. R-MNL-22-05157-68-CR, and are presently being securely kept and held in the custody of the Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch 21," read Palad's letter to the NBI.