MANILA, Philippines — The legal team of Vice President Sara Duterte stated on Friday, March 6, 2026, that they want self-confessed “bagman” Ramil Madriaga to remain unharmed, dismissing claims that the Vice President is involved in any threats against his life.
The statement follows reports from Madriaga’s lawyer, Raymund Palad, who claimed his client faced intimidation and death threats while detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
- Bounty Rumors: Palad alleged that rumors of a “bounty” were circulating in the jail for anyone who could harm Madriaga.
- Payoff Claim: Madriaga’s camp also claimed he was offered between ₱500 million and ₱1 billion by unnamed government officials to recant his testimony.
- NBI Protection: Following these reports, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agreed to deploy an agent to the jail for Madriaga’s “peace of mind.”
Lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., representing the Vice President, denied any involvement in the threats and expressed support for providing Madriaga with additional protection—though for a strategic reason.
- The Goal: “We want him alive and in the pink of health because he’s the only one who can admit that he made up his testimony against the Vice President and identify his handlers,” Panelo said.
- Perjury Complaint: The Vice President recently filed a perjury complaint against Madriaga, asserting that his claims of delivering duffel bags of cash on her behalf are “invented stories.”
- “Fraud” Accusation: Panelo called the alleged ₱1 billion payoff a “ridiculous claim,” stating that the defense wants Madriaga to testify so his “lies can be shattered on cross-examination.”
Madriaga, a former military agent currently facing kidnapping charges, emerged as a key witness in the fourth impeachment complaint against the Vice President. He claims to have transported large sums of money for Duterte between 2022 and 2023. Duterte has consistently denied these ties, labeling Madriaga a “pawn” in a political “fishing expedition” aimed at sabotaging her 2028 presidential ambitions.