TAGUIG CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, March 4, filed a perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga, a former supporter and self-confessed aide who has emerged as a witness in the impeachment case against her.

Duterte personally went to the Office of the City Prosecutor in Taguig accompanied by her legal counsel, Paolo Panelo Jr., to lodge the complaint. She accused Madriaga of making false claims in sworn affidavits, including allegations that her campaign was funded by drug dealers and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Madriaga previously testified that he delivered duffel bags and vehicles filled with cash to various locations on orders supposedly linked to Duterte’s camp. He also alleged that parallel campaign groups such as Inday Sara Duterte is My President (ISIP) Pilipinas were financed through illicit sources. 

Duterte has consistently denied these accusations, branding them as fabrications meant to bolster impeachment complaints against her.

The perjury case adds a new layer to the ongoing political and legal battles surrounding the Vice President. Duterte’s camp emphasized that Madriaga’s statements were not only damaging but also false, and that accountability must be pursued through the courts.

The complaint comes just days after the House Committee on Justice began hearings on multiple impeachment complaints against Duterte, where Madriaga was presented as one of the key witnesses. 

The Vice President’s legal team said the perjury filing is part of her broader defense strategy to counter what they describe as “baseless and malicious” charges.