Vice President Sara Duterte Files Perjury Charges Over Campaign Funding Allegations
Vice President Sara Duterte has taken legal action by filing perjury charges on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, against Ramil Madriaga. The charges stem from Madriaga's claims that her 2022 election campaign was financed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and individuals linked to the drug trade. In a strongly worded statement, Duterte categorically denied all allegations made by Madriaga, who identified himself as her former aide and "bagman."
Duterte Denies Relationship with Accuser
Duterte emphasized that Madriaga is an accused in a kidnapping case and has no legitimate connection to her. "Madriaga is an accused in a kidnapping case who pretended to be a campaign supporter and from there suddenly emerged as a supposed witness in the impeachment against me," the Vice President stated. She further explained her decision to file the perjury case, saying, "Because of this, today I filed a perjury case against Ramil Madriaga to finally hold him accountable for his lies. Fabricated stories must not be allowed to deceive the public."
Background of the Allegations
The controversy began in December 2025 when Madriaga submitted a notarized affidavit containing his explosive claims. In the document, he described himself as having worked with various government units and assisted in organizing the group Inday Sara Duterte Is My President (Isip) Pilipinas. Madriaga alleged that he delivered funds and operated behind the scenes under Duterte's purported instructions, linking her campaign to illicit financing sources.
Duterte's Firm Rebuttal
In response to these allegations, Duterte has consistently maintained that she has no personal or professional relationship with Madriaga. She stated that she never gave him any instructions, visited him, or spoke to him while he was incarcerated. Duterte dismissed his accusations as "bare," "noise," and entirely lacking in proof. Madriaga has been detained since 2023 due to a pending kidnapping case, adding complexity to the situation.
The filing of perjury charges marks a significant escalation in this political dispute, as Duterte seeks to legally challenge what she describes as false and misleading statements intended to mislead the public and damage her reputation.
