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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Duterte 'not particularly good' in law school, Madriaga affidavit bares

VP Duterte 'not particularly good' in law school, Madriaga affidavit bares

Published Apr 14, 2026 03:45 pm

At A Glance

  • Witness Ramil Madriaga didn't hold back with his revelations about Vice President Sara Duterte during the House Committee on Justice's impeachment hearing Tuesday, April 14, as he touched on her alleged academic struggles when she was in law school.
Ramil Madriaga (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Screenshot from YouTube livestream, MANILA BULLETIN)
Ramil Madriaga (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Screenshot from YouTube livestream, MANILA BULLETIN)



Witness Ramil Madriaga didn't hold back with his revelations about Vice President Sara Duterte during the House Committee on Justice's impeachment hearing Tuesday, April 14, as he touched on her alleged academic struggles when she was in law school.
Madriaga, in the 24-page supplementary affidavit that he read and submitted to the justice committee, said Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Rey Quilala of the Office of the Ombudsman shared to him some details about the respondent's time in San Sebastian College (SSC) of Law.
The detainee-turned-impeachment witness identified Quilala as Vice President Duterte’s former professor.
“Atty. Ryan and his wife became quite close to me and my family that they agreed to serve as godparents in my son’s wedding,” Madriaga said, as he described his relationship with Quilala.
“He (Quilala) shared with me that Sara was not particularly good in school, was often struggling with her academics, and habitually rude and violent to other students. Hence, Atty. Ryan used his influence in SSC-Law to ensure that Sara received passing grades despite her poor academic performance,” said the witness.
Madriaga also linked Quilala to alleged cash transactions, and said he personally delivered money to him at the Office of the Ombudsman.
He claimed that similar deliveries--including to Ombudsman Samuel Martires--were made under instructions from Vice President Duterte or her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The witness said Quilala--a former associate dean of SSC-Law--later became part of Duterte’s professional and political network. Such network included his involvement in the formation of the Initiative for Social Justice, Innovation, and Progress Pilipinas, or ISIP Pilipinas, Inc.
Madriaga said this group was formed specifically to support the younger Duterte's political campaign.
He added that his ties with the Vice President spanned several years, beginning when he was introduced to her by the former president in 2018.
“Since then, I have frequently met and discussed with Sara regarding various matters,” Madriaga said.
He said these accounts contradict Vice President Duterte’s earlier denial that she had any personal or professional relationship with him.
“However, her denial of any affiliation with me is absolutely false. She lied under oath in her perjury complaint against me,” Madriaga further said.
Madriaga leaves hearing early
Although Madriaga was allowed by the court to stay in the House panel hearing up to 5 p.m., Tuesday, he was excused at past 3 p.m. upon a motion by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña.
Justice panel chairperson, Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro said this would allow Madriaga's security personnel ample time to transport their subject back to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Taguig City before the lapse of the 5 p.m. deadline.
Madriaga--who wore a helmet and bulletproof vest--arrived at the House of Representatives at around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday . He is in jail for a kidnapping charge.

Related Tags

Impeachment Ramil Madriaga Sara Duterte San Sebastian College Law school
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