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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara denies links to her alleged bagman Madriaga

VP Sara denies links to her alleged bagman Madriaga

Published Dec 22, 2025 09:16 am
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
Vice President Sara Duterte has denied any personal connection to Ramil Madriaga, who surfaced recently and claimed to be her former aide and alleged bagman.
In a statement, Duterte said she neither visited Madriaga in prison nor spoke to him about anything.
"I do not have a personal relationship with Ramil Madriaga, nor have I ever given him instructions of any kind. I have never visited him in prison, nor have I spoken to him about anything at any time," Duterte said on Monday, Dec. 22.
She branded Madriaga's accusations as a desperate move to secure his release from detention.
The Vice President accused Madriaga for spreading false information to "obstruct and undermine" her possible candidacy for president.
"Mr. Madriaga, who is currently facing serious criminal charges and has a prior criminal record, appears to be acting out of desperation to secure his release from detention," Duterte said.
"He is now disseminating false statements to government authorities as part of a concerted effort to obstruct and undermine my possible candidacy for President," she added.
Duterte further disputed the photos submitted by Madriaga, saying those did not support his claims. She further said that the photos were taken during public events that she also attended.
"The photographs he submitted are unrelated images taken during public events where I was present. These images do not support his allegations and merely show that he was present as part of an election campaign group," the Vice President said.
"Mr. Madriaga has offered no proof-no documents, no corroboration-only accusations. Bare allegations, no matter how loudly repeated, amount to nothing more than noise," she stressed.
Last week, Madriaga submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman his affidavit that detailed his allegations that Duterte's 2022 campaign funds came from drug dealers and from the now banned Philippines Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

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