Manila Bulletin
Philippines
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Matibag: VP Duterte went to see Madriaga in jail, but visited Teves instead
Philippines
National
Matibag: VP Duterte went to see Madriaga in jail, but visited Teves instead
Matibag: VP Duterte went to see Madriaga in jail, but visited Teves instead
Published Apr 30, 2026 05:53 pm
At A Glance
- NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirms that Vice President Sara Duterte visited detainees Ramil Madriaga and Arnie Teves at BJMP Camp Bagong Diwa in October 2025.
- The NBI verifies the visits through official reports and subpoenas for jail logbooks, while also investigating a reported attempt to harm Madriaga by another prisoner.
- Rep. Janice Degamo presses for clarity on Duterte's alleged visit to Teves.
Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Vice President Sara Duterte visited her self-confessed "bagman" Ramil Madriaga and supporter former Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnie Teves at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City last year.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag confirmed this information to congressmen during the House Committee on Justice's final probable cause hearing on the Vice President’s impeachment case.
Matibag did so while answering questions raised by Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Janice Degamo, whose husband--Roel Degamo--was assassinated in broad daylight outside his home in March 2023.
Teves, a former deputy speaker, is facing charges in connection with the murder of his supposed political rival.
On the other hand, Madriaga is a respondent in a kidnapping case. A potential "star witness" in the impending impeachment trial against Duterte, Madriaga served as a resource person during the justice panel’s April 4 hearing.
Matibag said the NBI investigated the reported visit of the Vice President in Camp Bagong Diwa, where Madriaga and Teves are detained, in October 2025. He said Duterte initially sought to visit Madriaga, but that when the latter refused to see her, she instead visited Teves.
“We have established that on two occasions, Vice President Sara Duterte visited BJMP in Camp Baggong Diwa initially trying to visit Ramil Madriaga,” the NBI chief told Degamo.
“But we were informed by Madriaga that ayaw niya, ayaw niya humarap. At the same time, nung nangyari ‘yun, ang pinuntahan niya ay si Arnie Teves po,” he said.
(But we were informed by Madriaga that she did not want to, she did not want to face it. At the same time, when that happened, the person she went to was Arnie Teves.)
To be fair to the Vice President, Degamo sought proof from Matibag regarding the alleged visits.
“We need to show to the public na hindi lang po ito gawa-gawa na statement na nag-visit siya, hindi lang ito sinisiraan siya, kaya sinasabi na she visited. Maaari po kaya nating ma-include bilang evidence or pieces of evidence that indeed there was a visit that took place?” she asked.
(We need to show to the public that this is not just a fabricated statement that she visited, not simply an attempt to malign her, which is why it is being said that she visited. Could we possibly include as evidence, or pieces of evidence, that indeed there was a visit took place?)
Matibag said the visitations were confirmed by the former jail warden of the penal facility.
“In fact, the NBI is requesting for the CCTV (closed circuit television) even before. But we have reports, may official report kami na nangyari yung pagbisita. And we are also issuing, nag-issue kami ng subpoena to get the logbook po ng mga bumisita [sa jail],” he said.
(We have an official report that the visit took place. And we are also issuing, we issued a subpoena to get the logbook of those who visited the jail.)
Matibag also revealed that there was a reported attempt to harm Madriaga, and that the NBI investigated it.
“There was a report of an attempt to harm Mr. Madraiga in one occasion. And nagpadala po kami ng mga investigating officers doon from NBI at na-establish po na meron po talagang isang detained prisoner duon na bagong lipat pa lang ay nag-attempt na saktan po si Mr. Madriaga,” he said.
(And we sent investigating officers there from the NBI, and it was established that indeed there was a detained prisoner who had just been transferred and already attempted to harm Mr. Madriaga.)
During the April 14 hearing, Madriaga has also alleged he is a dummy of former President Rodrigo Duterte in several bank accounts.
Degamo said she and her constituents were particularly interested on whether or not the Vice President visited Teves, the principal suspect in her husband’s murder.
“And kung may katotohanan po ang sinasabi ni Madriaga na pinuntahan siya at siya ang target ng pagpunta kay Teves, dapat po maliwanagan ‘yung aming mga kababayan in Negros Oriental," she said.
(And if what Madriaga is saying is true, that he was approached and that he was the target of the visit to Teves, then our fellow citizens in Negros Oriental must be enlightened.”
“We are not here to accuse without basis. We are here to seek answers, not only for our family but for all Filipinos who deserve leaders they can trust,” Degamo said.