MANILA — House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday called on the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate what she described as serious allegations made by alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga against Vice President Sara Duterte.
De Lima said the claims warrant scrutiny by appropriate authorities, stressing that the gravity of the accusations makes them “worth looking into.”
Madriaga has alleged that Duterte’s initial plan to run for president in the 2022 elections was financed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and illegal drug money. Duterte later abandoned the presidential bid and ran for vice president instead.
The lawmaker said she received a handwritten letter from Madriaga dated Nov. 17, before the public release of his notarized affidavit, and was also furnished a copy of the document containing the allegations.
Driven by what she described as the sensitivity and weight of the claims, De Lima said she personally met Madriaga at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Bicutan, Taguig City, on Dec. 8.
Their discussion reportedly lasted more than two hours.
According to De Lima, the affidavit details alleged deliveries of large sums of money, including cash supposedly transported in vehicles and bags, and names several personalities, with accusations involving not only Vice President Duterte but also former president Rodrigo Duterte.
De Lima said Madriaga claimed to possess evidence to support his statements, prompting her to urge agencies such as the DOJ, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Ombudsman to examine the allegations thoroughly.
While noting that there may be questions surrounding Madriaga’s credibility, De Lima said the substance of his claims should still be carefully evaluated.
She added that although Madriaga was able to show some basis for his alleged connection to the Duterte family, she remains cautious and is awaiting concrete evidence to substantiate the claim that he personally delivered money for the Vice President’s campaign.