Photo credit: Congress PH

A self-confessed “bagman” has provided what lawmakers describe as a crucial gap in the alleged flow of confidential funds linked to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, particularly on what happened to the money after it left government custody.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability (Blue Ribbon Committee), said the affidavits and testimony of Ramil L. Madriaga help clarify an unresolved portion of the fund trail involving hundreds of millions in confidential allocations.

The House inquiry previously examined the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds—₱500 million from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and ₱112.5 million from the Department of Education (DepEd)—during Duterte’s leadership of both offices.

The committee’s findings have since been carried over into the impeachment proceedings before the House Committee on Justice, which is now determining whether there is probable cause to elevate the complaints to a full Senate trial.

Chua said earlier hearings reached an impasse after Special Disbursing Officers (SDOs) Gina Acosta and Julieta Villadelrey testified that they turned over funds to Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Dante Lachica of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who were assigned to secure the Vice President.

“Si Ramil Madriaga, lumalabas siya lang naman ‘yung missing link doon sa kwento,” Chua, who is a member of the Committee on Justice, said in a Bilyonaryo News Channel interview.

“Kasi there was the statement of two SDOs na sinabi nila they handed the money to Colonel Nolasco and Colonel Lachica. Now, after giving it to Nolasco and Lachica, what happened next? ‘Di ba ‘yan ang laging question?” he added.

Chua said Madriaga’s affidavit attempts to address that gap.

“So ngayon, based dito sa affidavit ni Madriaga, ito nangyari,” he said. “Binigay dito, binigay dito, binigay dito.”

He also raised concerns over the alleged involvement of military personnel in the handling of funds, noting that AFP officers are not authorized to disburse confidential funds.

“Now, who is Colonel Nolasco? Who is Colonel Lachica? Eh wala naman silang… they’re not connected. They’re not even connected to OVP and DepEd kasi AFP sila eh. Ang trabaho nila is to secure the Vice President, not to disperse [funds],” Chua said.

Chua stressed that confidential funds are governed by strict rules, with accountability resting on agency heads and designated Special Disbursing Officers.

“Sila (SDOs) dapat na nagdi-disperse. But if I remember it correctly, during the committee hearing, we asked the SDOs, kanino niyo binigay? And they have no idea,” Chua said.

He added that even without Madriaga’s testimony, questions about the handling of the funds remain unresolved.

“Now, tanggalin natin si Ramil Madriaga, mag-i-stand pa rin ba ‘yung complaint? May issue pa rin kasi,” he said.

The House Committee on Justice continues its determination of probable cause in the impeachment complaints, which could eventually proceed to a full trial before the Senate.