Photo credit: Congress PH

A key piece of the puzzle may soon come into focus as House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairperson Rep. Joel R. Chua said Ramil L. Madriaga’s bank secrecy waiver could confirm whether alleged cash transfers linked to the Dutertes actually happened.

Chua said the waiver gives lawmakers a chance to verify Madriaga’s claims that his bank accounts were used to move large sums of money.

“Well, ito ‘yung pagpapatotoo sa mga pumasok na pera doon sa kanyang bank account. Kagaya ng sinasabi po niya na siya ay ginawang dummy, kung saan may mga transaksyon po ginamit po siya pinadaan yung mga pondo at ang ilan po dito ay malalaking amount at may pagkakataon na ginagamit po ito pang launder ng pera,” he said in an interview with One PH.

Madriaga signed the waiver during a House justice committee hearing on Tuesday, allowing investigators to examine transactions from six bank accounts listed in his affidavit. According to him, these accounts were opened by close associates of former president Rodrigo Duterte and were used to channel millions of pesos to Malacañang and several safehouses.

"Kung maalala po ninyo, may mga ilang bangko po na binanggit po niya na ginamit doon para pasukan ng malalaking amount ng pera. So dito siguro, gusto niya patunayan na lahat ng mga transaksyon ng kanyang sinaad ay talagang nangyari," Chua added.

The lawmaker said Madriaga’s affidavit helps connect earlier testimonies from special disbursing officers, particularly on how the ₱612.5 million in confidential funds were allegedly withdrawn and passed on to security personnel of Vice President Sara Duterte, including Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Dante Lachica.

The issue traces back to a 2024 congressional probe into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education.

“So kanina, lumalabas na ‘yung pera pala ay tinurnover dito po kay Madriaga base po sa kanyang sinumpaang salaysay at ito naman ay kanyang dinistribute sa tatlong tao, o sa tatlong lugar,” Chua said.

In his testimony, Madriaga claimed he worked with Nolasco and Lachica from July 2022 to April 2023, delivering large amounts of cash to various recipients “as instructed by Sara.” He also alleged that in December 2022, he personally received instructions from the Vice President to deliver four duffel bags filled with cash to multiple locations, including the parking lot of the Office of the Ombudsman, a comedy bar in Quezon City, and political allies in Laguna.

Madriaga also disputed earlier reports that the OVP spent ₱125 million in confidential funds over 11 days, saying the money was actually distributed in less than 24 hours.

These funds were later flagged by the Commission on Audit for failing to meet requirements under joint guidelines governing the use and reporting of confidential and intelligence funds.

“So dito po, nakita po natin kagaya po ng kanyang salaysay, sinabi nga niya na hindi po totoo na 11 days na inubos ang P125 million. Kanina, sinasabi niya less than 24 hours naidistribute na ang P125 million,” Chua said.

Chua described Madriaga’s testimony as “very explosive” and “shocking,” noting that it marks the first time the public is hearing direct allegations linking the Duterte family to a supposed multi-million peso laundering scheme.

As for the next steps, Chua said the justice panel has already asked most of its clarificatory questions, though other lawmakers may still raise additional points in the next hearing set for April 22.