A detainee who has become a key witness in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday detailed alleged plans by the Duterte camp to destabilize President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration and pave the way for her to assume the presidency before the end of his term.
Ramil Madriaga, brought under tight security from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Taguig City, was sworn in before the House Committee on Justice and read his 24-page supplementary affidavit during the resumed hearings.
In his testimony, Madriaga recounted a conversation from November 2021 with former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte:
“Sometime in November 2021. PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) mentioned to me that Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. (‘BBM’) will run for President while Sara will serve as his running mate. PRRD added that a few months ago, BBM and Sen. Imee Marcos (‘Imee) visited him to discuss a possible alliance in the 2022 National Elections. During this meeting, BBM was able to convince PRRD to have Sara as BBM’s Vice-President,” Madriaga stated.
He claimed the agreement included a provision for Marcos to step down voluntarily by 2025.
“However, they also agreed that by 2025, BBM will voluntarily step down to give way for a Sara presidency,” Madriaga noted.
Madriaga further alleged that after Sara Duterte took her oath as Vice President, her father met with retired generals to explore scenarios for removing Marcos from office if he failed to honor the supposed deal.
One strategy reportedly discussed involved undermining the Marcos administration from within.
“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.
Marcos assumed the presidency on June 30, 2022, succeeding Rodrigo Duterte. The once-close alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families fractured in 2024, culminating in Sara Duterte’s resignation as Education secretary that June.