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Advocates Philippines
Abante Flags Duffel Bag Fund Trail Urges Deeper Probe Into Madriaga Claims
CONGRESS PH FILE
A lawmaker is raising serious concerns over how public funds may have been handled, following the testimony of Ramil Madriaga before the House Committee on Justice.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said Madriaga’s account paints a troubling picture of money allegedly moving outside normal audit safeguards — something he believes cannot simply be dismissed.
“Madriaga’s testimony provides a chilling look into the movement of public funds that circumvented every known audit safeguard,” Abante said, as the panel weighed the significance of the affidavit in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Abante stressed that the committee has a duty to dig deeper, especially with details that raise eyebrows — including claims that funds were transferred using duffel bags and even car tire key drops.
“Kung legal ito, bakit kailangang dumaan sa ganitong paraan?” he asked, pointing out the unusual nature of the alleged transactions.
He also questioned how the Office of the Vice President supposedly spent P125 million in just 11 days for safehouses, tied to names that, he said, the Philippine Statistics Authority could not verify.
For Abante, these are not just random accusations but specific claims that deserve scrutiny. He pushed back against criticism that the House is conducting a “fishing expedition,” clarifying that their role is not to determine guilt but to check if there is enough basis to move the impeachment process forward.
“We are not here to convict — we are here to determine a threshold,” he said, emphasizing that establishing probable cause is part of the House’s constitutional mandate.
He added that following the trail of public funds should be seen as proper oversight, not harassment.
“Kapag sinundan mo ang pera ng bayan, oversight iyon — hindi fishing,” Abante said.
Abante also addressed doubts about Madriaga’s credibility, saying the issue should be tested during the hearings rather than used to immediately disqualify him as a witness.
“Kung presumed innocent ang Vice President, dapat ganoon din ang witness,” he pointed out, drawing a line between a witness’s legal ability to testify and the committee’s role in assessing credibility.
In the end, Abante said the House is not being asked to convict anyone yet — but to determine whether the allegations and evidence on record are enough to justify the next step.
“Transparency is not persecution. Questions are not convictions. Accountability is not harassment,” he said.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said Madriaga’s account paints a troubling picture of money allegedly moving outside normal audit safeguards — something he believes cannot simply be dismissed.
“Madriaga’s testimony provides a chilling look into the movement of public funds that circumvented every known audit safeguard,” Abante said, as the panel weighed the significance of the affidavit in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Abante stressed that the committee has a duty to dig deeper, especially with details that raise eyebrows — including claims that funds were transferred using duffel bags and even car tire key drops.
“Kung legal ito, bakit kailangang dumaan sa ganitong paraan?” he asked, pointing out the unusual nature of the alleged transactions.
He also questioned how the Office of the Vice President supposedly spent P125 million in just 11 days for safehouses, tied to names that, he said, the Philippine Statistics Authority could not verify.
For Abante, these are not just random accusations but specific claims that deserve scrutiny. He pushed back against criticism that the House is conducting a “fishing expedition,” clarifying that their role is not to determine guilt but to check if there is enough basis to move the impeachment process forward.
“We are not here to convict — we are here to determine a threshold,” he said, emphasizing that establishing probable cause is part of the House’s constitutional mandate.
He added that following the trail of public funds should be seen as proper oversight, not harassment.
“Kapag sinundan mo ang pera ng bayan, oversight iyon — hindi fishing,” Abante said.
Abante also addressed doubts about Madriaga’s credibility, saying the issue should be tested during the hearings rather than used to immediately disqualify him as a witness.
“Kung presumed innocent ang Vice President, dapat ganoon din ang witness,” he pointed out, drawing a line between a witness’s legal ability to testify and the committee’s role in assessing credibility.
In the end, Abante said the House is not being asked to convict anyone yet — but to determine whether the allegations and evidence on record are enough to justify the next step.
“Transparency is not persecution. Questions are not convictions. Accountability is not harassment,” he said.
Apr 14, 2026
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