Madriaga says VP Duterte's P125 million confidential funds 'disposed' in less than 24 hours, not 11 days
Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged bagman claimed that the Office of the Vice President's 2022 confidential funds worth P125 million were not spent in 11 days, but rather "disposed" in a single day.
Ramil Madriaga, who identified himself as Sara's former aide, detailed in a supplemental affidavit the money delivery instructions from the VP. The transaction took place on Dec. 20, 2022, he said.
He claimed that on Dec. 20, 2022, Sara told him to coordinate with Col. Dennis Nolasco, the former commander of the VP Security and Protection Group, for a delivery to three locations: San Pablo, Laguna, Nightstrip in Quezon City, and to the Office of the Ombudsman, which was then by Samuel Martires.
"Bawi tayo sa kanila," Sara supposedly said, according to Madriaga.
Nolasco allegedly texted him for a "transport," which is short-hand for delivery or transportation of large sums of money.
At the Department of Education Central Office, Madriaga and Nolasco met with Col. Dante Lachica and special disbursement officer Gina Acosta, where they were handed four duffel bags containing around P30 million to P35 million.
Two bags were loaded into Madriaga's vehicle, while the other two were placed in a Toyota Grandia driven by a certain "Chief." The bags were to be delivered to Cabuyao, Laguna, to an unnamed politician, and Nommu Basho in Tomas Morato. The other two bags were to be delivered to the OMB parking lot the next day.
"A few years later, I read from several media reports that the P125 million OVP confidential funds in 2022 were reportedly utilized in just 11 days. This is wrong because I personally disposed the money in less than 24 hours," Madriaga said.
Sara's counsel, Atty. Michael Poa, said the VP was skipping the House justice panel's impeachment proceedings.
Rodrigo Duterte plotted assassination vs Marcos
Madriaga also claimed in his affidavit that there were talks of term-sharing and plots to stage a coup and assassinate Sara's running-mate, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
The former aide stated that in November 2021, Marcos convinced his successor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to have Sara as his VP. They supposedly agreed that by 2025, Marcos would voluntarily step down to give way to a Sara presidency.
"I remember that one of the plans considered was to sabotage BBM's administration by using some of BBM's own men (either recommended by PRRD for appointment or allied with the Duterte's) to reveal supposed corruption issues that will serve as a precursor for an impeachment complaint," Madriaga said.
If Marcos didn't voluntarily step down, Madriaga said that there were plans to overthrow him, including assassination, mass resignation of government officials, civil disobedience, and an armed assault of Malacañang Palace.
"It was also considered by PRRD to arrange assassinations or armed hits of several government officials to cause massive civil unrest," the alleged bagman said.
Marcos and Sara's "UniTeam" began to show cracks after the president appointed the VP as Secretary of Education, even though she wanted to be chief of the Department of National Defense. The rift continued amid budget hearings into the OVP's 2022 confidential funds, and Sara's death threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romuadez.
The House Committee on Justice kicked off its hearings on the impeachment complaints filed against Duterte on March 25 after declaring the third and fourth raps sufficient in grounds on March 18.
On March 4, the House panel deemed the third and fourth impeachment complaints, filed by Fr. Sballa et al. and Atty. Nathaniel Cabrera, respectively, against her sufficient in substance.
The third complaint, endorsed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder and/or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The fourth one, endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, likewise cited violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes as grounds of impeachment.
The first complaint was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule, while the second was withdrawn as it's similar to the third rap.