The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, that Vice President Sara Duterte attempted to visit Ramil Madriaga, who claims to be her former aide, while he was in detention.
Attempted Visit and Refusal
During the resumption of the impeachment hearings against Duterte by the House Committee on Justice, NBI Director Melvin Matibag stated that, based on their investigation and confirmed by the then jail warden, Duterte tried to visit Madriaga at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, on two separate occasions.
“We were informed by Madriaga that he did not want to face her. At the same time that this happened, she went to see Arnie Teves,” Matibag said.
Security Footage and Subpoena
The NBI chief said they have requested a copy of the security footage of Duterte’s visit to the facility and have also issued a subpoena to the BJMP for the submission of a copy of the logbook, which will show the Vice President’s visit.
Report of Harm Attempt
Matibag also reported that someone attempted to harm Madriaga while in detention. “It was established that there was indeed a detained prisoner, newly transferred, who attempted to harm Madriaga,” he said.
Madriaga’s Allegations
Madriaga is currently detained on kidnapping-for-ransom charges. In his affidavit submitted to the House Committee on Justice amid the impeachment hearings against Duterte, he made several serious claims:
- He linked lawyer Manases Carpio, Duterte’s husband, to the controversial 2018 shipment of magnetic lifters found to contain billions worth of illegal drugs.
- He claimed he was used as a conduit for millions of pesos in bank transactions of several people close to former President Rodrigo Duterte, including funds intended for “intelligence operations” and money laundering.
- He alleged that the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceuticals and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang were among those who funded the 2022 campaign of Vice President Sara Duterte.
- He linked the Dutertes to a plot to unseat and execute President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
- He claimed that the P125 million confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) were spent in less than 24 hours on the order of then Education Secretary Duterte.
