Vice President Sara Duterte visited detained former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnie Teves, not her self-proclaimed bagman, at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed.
In a press briefing on December 23, Remulla said footage and records show Duterte’s visit to the detention facility on October 19.
“The warden was there, present during the meeting. Wala naman daw pinag-usapan masyado, kung hindi nagkamustahan lang. That’s the extent of the report to me,” the DILG chief said.
Duterte previously denied visiting Ramil Madriaga, who claimed to have served as her bagman, allegedly delivering millions of cash to various individuals. Madriaga also alleged in an affidavit to the Ombudsman that funds for Duterte’s 2022 vice presidential campaign came from POGO operators and drug dealers.
Duterte earlier refuted the claims of Madriaga’s counsel that she visited his client in jail to offer a judge on his kidnapping case.
Teves, a designated terrorist, faces multiple murder charges in connection to the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in March 2023. He was deported back to the Philippines in May after evading arrest for two years.
Remulla noted that while he is not the proper authority to comment on Madriaga’s affidavit, Duterte can expect the detainee’s claims “will be examined and scrutinized to the greatest detail.”
VP Sara has yet to confirm or deny Remulla’s statements.