House to test Madriaga’s credibility

MANILA, Philippines — The justice committee of the House of Representatives is expected to test the credibility of self-proclaimed bagman Ramil Madriaga as he testifies in the panel’s clarificatory hearings tomorrow to determine “probable cause” in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Judge Alma Crispina Collado-Lacorte of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 had granted the request of panel chair Rep. Gerville Luistro to allow Madriaga to attend the April 14 hearing.

“So we’re expecting that all the personalities that we have subpoenaed, including the documents as well as other related pieces of evidence will be presented in the hearing and that includes Madriaga who confessed being the VP’s bagman,” Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.

“We will also be discussing about the contents and details in his sworn affidavit, which I think many of us in the committee are interested to see and assess for ourselves if indeed Madriaga is a credible witness,” Ridon stressed.

In an interview on “News Forum” over the weekend, Ridon said Madriaga is more likely to be called early in the hearing because the committee has to work within the schedule allowed by the court order covering his appearance.

Madriaga was one of the key personalities to be invited as resource person or witness in the hearing. He was ordered to testify in person, and was directed to present original copies of an affidavit dated November 2025 as well as “any other evidence in your possession.”

Madriaga claimed he served as Duterte’s aide who delivered bags of cash in behalf of the former Davao City mayor, and exposed that her May 2022 vice presidential campaign was bankrolled by both drug lords and the Chinese-led Philippine offshore gaming operators.

He alleged that he handled delivery of confidential funds tied to the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education.

The panel said the documents and testimony from Madriaga are being sought in connection with the impeachment complaints filed against Duterte and endorsed by several lawmakers.

The House justice panel is conducting hearings to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to elevate the complaints to the plenary for possible transmittal to the Senate.

Weakest link

Madriaga would be “the weakest link” in the attempt to impeach the Vice President, according to lawyer Paolo Panelo, Duterte’s legal counsel in her separate perjury case filed against the alleged bagman.

Panelo clarified that they do not intend to stop Madriaga from giving his testimony, but are only concerned that some people might believe him because his testimony would be “amplified.”