Makabayan bloc urges House leadership to resume Quad Committee and Good Government hearings following sworn allegations linking Vice President Sara Duterte to misuse of confidential funds and other illegal activities.
Three decades after the Marcopper mining disaster devastated Marinduque’s waterways, the province is again pressing the…
Housing is probably the biggest issue affecting people the world over.
Malacañang on Monday called for a more thorough investigation into the questioned flood control projects in Taguig…
The defense on Monday backed the move by senator-judges to exclude a prosecution witness who testified on the firearms…
The Makabayan bloc has called for the immediate resumption of the Quad Committee investigation and the hearings of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability following the sworn statement of Ramil Lagunoy Madriaga linking Vice President Sara Duterte to alleged illegal activities involving confidential funds, POGO operators and drug syndicates.
The bloc — composed of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Atty. Renee Louise Co — said the hearings should also expand to cover cases of political extrajudicial killings of activists and human rights defenders, particularly in light of the upcoming International Criminal Court pre-trial proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Madriaga’s affidavit reportedly details alleged Oplan Double Barrel support operations, the delivery of confidential funds and the supposed roles of Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and Col. Dennis Nolasco. It also contains claims about POGO funding for the Sara Duterte campaign and the alleged use of magnetic lifters for drug shipments that passed through customs.
The bloc described the claims as detailed allegations under oath linking the Office of the Vice President to criminal syndicates, illegal gambling operations and the drug trade.
In his statement, Madriaga allegedly claimed he served as a bagman, transporting duffel bags and vehicles containing millions of pesos in cash to various locations, including establishments in Timog, Quezon City, the Office of the Ombudsman compound and a mall in Mandaluyong.
He further alleged that funding for certain Duterte campaign support groups came from POGO operators and drug dealers, with cash pickups conducted in several locations in Pampanga, Quezon City and Taguig.
The affidavit also mentions the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), where Madriaga claimed he worked from July 2022 to April 2023 under the supervision of senior officers.
The Makabayan bloc said these allegations raise serious questions about the possible misuse of security personnel and government resources.
The group said the Filipino people deserve answers, particularly regarding the alleged use of confidential funds and campaign financing.
Beyond the Madriaga revelations, the bloc said the resumption of Quad Committee hearings presents an opportunity to investigate political extrajudicial killings of activists, journalists, lawyers and community organizers.
While the ICC proceedings focus on drug war-related killings, the bloc said Congress has a duty to examine other alleged human rights violations, including killings of activists and critics who were previously red-tagged or labeled as enemies of the state.
The Makabayan lawmakers urged the House leadership to prioritize the investigation as part of its constitutional oversight function, stressing that the matter goes beyond partisan politics.
They called for the immediate resumption of the Quad Committee hearings and for all individuals named in Madriaga’s affidavit, as well as officials allegedly linked to political killings, to address the allegations under oath.
According to the bloc, the Filipino people — particularly the families of victims of extrajudicial killings — deserve accountability, transparency and justice.
