MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday that Sara Duterte attempted to visit detainee Ramil Madriaga at a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Taguig City, based on its investigation presented during a House hearing.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag told the House committee on justice that Duterte went to Camp Bagong Diwa on two occasions and initially tried to visit Madriaga, who declined to meet her. Matibag said Duterte also visited Arnie Teves during one of those trips.
Matibag provided the update in response to questions from Janice Degamo during the panel’s clarificatory hearing on impeachment complaints against the vice president.
He said the visits were confirmed by the facility’s former jail warden and supported by official reports. He added that the NBI has requested closed-circuit television footage and issued a subpoena for the visitor logbook to further document the incidents.
Teves faces allegations of masterminding the March 2023 killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said Duterte visited Teves but not Madriaga, citing reports released in December.
Matibag said the NBI’s findings align with statements from Madriaga’s lawyer, Raymund Palad, who claimed Duterte visited Madriaga twice, including a second visit in October.
Palad alleged that the visits aimed to prevent Madriaga from disclosing information about Duterte’s alleged activities. Madriaga testified before the House panel on April 15, alleging he delivered money to various individuals on Duterte’s orders when she served as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte denied the allegations and filed a perjury complaint against Madriaga.