Vice President Sara Duterte has categorically denied the accusations made by Ramil Madriaga, asserting that she has no personal relationship with the detained former military agent.
In a statement on Monday, December 22, Duterte clarified that she never visited Madriaga in prison and did not give him any instructions.
“I do not have a personal relationship with Ramil Madriaga, nor have I ever given him instructions of any kind. I have never visited him in prison, nor have I spoken to him about anything at any time,” she said.
The statement was issued in response to claims by Madriaga’s lawyer, Raymund Palad, who alleged that Duterte visited Madriaga twice in jail to stop him from revealing his alleged role in intelligence gathering and in delivering large sums of cash when she was still mayor of Davao City.
Duterte also criticized the photographs submitted by Madriaga, describing them as unrelated images taken during public events where she was present.
She emphasized that the images “do not support his allegations and merely show that he was present as part of an election campaign group.”
“Mr. Madriaga has offered no proof—no documents, no corroboration—only accusations. Bare allegations, no matter how loudly repeated, amount to nothing more than noise,” she added.
Thhe vice president then accused Madriaga of spreading false claims to government authorities, characterizing this as part of an effort to obstruct and undermine her possible presidential candidacy.
“Mr. Madriaga, who is currently facing serious criminal charges and has a prior criminal record, appears to be acting out of desperation to secure his release from detention. He is now disseminating false statements to government authorities as part of a concerted effort to obstruct and undermine my possible candidacy for President,” Duterte said.
On December 17, Madriaga submitted his sworn affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman, claiming that he helped form the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group and transported cash for Duterte.
He alleged that he delivered duffel bags and vehicles filled with money to various locations on orders supposedly linked to her camp.
In July 2023, Madriaga was arrested in Cainta, Rizal, by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group and is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
He has been identified as the alleged leader of the Madriaga Kidnap-for-Ransom Group, considered one of the most dangerous criminal syndicates in recent history.
