Ramil Madriaga, the self-confessed former “bagman” of Vice President Sara Duterte, told the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday that the ₱125 million in confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022 was not spent over 11 days as earlier reported, but instead “disposed of” in less than 24 hours.
In a sworn supplemental affidavit read during the impeachment hearings, Madriaga disputed previous accounts regarding the timeline of the fund’s use.
“A few years later, I read from several media reports that the ₱125 million OVP confidential funds in 2022 were reportedly utilized in just 11 days. This is wrong because I personally disposed of the money in less than 24 hours,” Madriaga stated.
According to his account, the transactions took place in December 2022, with bags of cash—each containing between ₱30 million and ₱35 million—retrieved from the Department of Education central office in Pasig City and delivered to various locations, including parts of Laguna and Quezon City.
Madriaga claimed the operation was carried out under the direct instructions of the Vice President and involved members of the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group, naming Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Dante Lachica in connection with the deliveries.
He detailed that the funds were packed in bundles of ₱1,000 bills, stacked in ₱1 million increments, sealed in transparent plastic, and transported using multiple vehicles to designated drop-off points.
Madriaga further asserted that his statements contradict Duterte’s previous denials, including her rejection of any association with him.
“However, her denial of any affiliation with me is absolutely false. She lied under oath in her Perjury Complaint against me,” he declared.
The testimony adds new developments to the controversy surrounding the OVP’s confidential funds, raising further questions about transparency, accountability, and compliance with government auditing rules. The issue remains central to the impeachment proceedings against Duterte as lawmakers continue their inquiry.