National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag has verified that Vice President Sara Duterte made visits to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, targeting meetings with former Congressman Arnie Teves and Ramil Madriaga.
Testifying before an impeachment hearing on Wednesday, Matibag responded to inquiries from Negros Oriental Rep. Janice Degamo regarding the Vice President’s presence at the detention center.
“Nag-imbestiga kami sa visit na ‘yan. We have established that on two occasions, Vice President Sara Duterte visited BJMP in Camp Bagong Diwa, initially trying to visit Ramil Madriaga,” Matibag testified.
According to the NBI chief, while Duterte attempted to meet with Madriaga—her alleged former “bagman”—the detainee reportedly refused the encounter.
“But we were informed by Madriaga that ayaw niya, ayaw niya humarap. At the same time, nung nangyari ‘yun, ang pinuntahan niya ay si Arnie Teves po,” he added.
Degamo, whose husband, late Governor Roel Degamo, was allegedly murdered in a plot involving Teves, pressed for concrete documentation to validate these claims. She emphasized the need for “receipts” to ensure the allegations were not merely politically motivated.
“May ebidensya po ba tayo? Kasi palagi nating sinasabi, dapat may resibo. In fairness to the VP, we need to show to the public na hindi lang po ito gawa-gawa na statement na nag-visit siya, hindi lang ito sinisiraan siya, kaya sinasabi na she visited. Maaari po kaya nating ma-include bilang evidence or pieces of evidence that indeed there was a visit that took place?” Degamo asked.
Matibag assured the committee that official reports and testimonies from the former jail warden support these findings. He further noted that the NBI has subpoenaed the facility’s logbooks and previously requested CCTV footage to solidify the evidentiary trail.
The hearing also touched upon the safety of Madriaga. Matibag confirmed that NBI investigators established a genuine threat against the detainee’s life involving a newly transferred prisoner.
“There was a report of an attempt to harm Mr. Madraiga in one occasion, and nagpadala po kami ng mga investigating officers doon from NBI at na-establish po na meron po talagang isang detained prisoner duon na bagong lipat pa lang ay nag-attempt na saktan po si Mr. Madriaga,” the Director stated.
For Degamo, the implications of a sitting Vice President visiting the primary suspect in a high-profile assassination remain a matter of grave public concern.
“And kung may katotohanan po ang sinasabi ni Madriaga na pinuntahan siya at siya ang target ng pagpunta kay Teves, dapat po maliwanagan ‘yung aming mga kababayan in Negros Oriental,” she said, concluding that the inquiry seeks transparency for all Filipinos.