THE Makabayan bloc urged the House of Representatives to resume the quad committee and the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearings on allegations of misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.
The group specifically mentioned the claim of security consultant Ramil Madriaga linking Duterte to illegal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and drug syndicates.
This comes after Duterte announced her 2028 presidential bid Wednesday.
In a statement, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co said the hearings should expand their scope to investigate cases of political extrajudicial killings of activists and human rights defenders, particularly in light of the upcoming International Criminal Court (ICC) pretrial proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Madriaga’s revelations detail Oplan Double Barrel support operations, the delivery of confidential funds and the roles of Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and Col. Dennis Nolasco, POGO funding for the Sara Duterte campaign, and magnetic lifters used for drug deliveries that passed through customs,” they said.
They added that Madriaga’s allegations connect the Office of the Vice President to criminal syndicates, illegal gambling operations, and the drug trade.
According to Madriaga’s affidavit, he served as a “bagman” for the vice president, transporting duffel bags and vehicles filled with millions of pesos in cash to various locations.
He said the funding for a parallel group he organized, ISIP Pilipinas, and other Duterte campaign support groups came from POGO operators and drug dealers.
“The Filipino people deserve answers. How can the vice president, who has repeatedly claimed proper use of confidential funds, explain allegations of cash-filled vehicles being dropped off at parking lots? How can she account for claims that her campaign was funded by the very POGO operators and drug dealers her father’s administration claimed to be fighting? If Madriaga’s statements are true, this represents a betrayal of public trust of historic proportions,” they said.
They also stressed that the House quad committee must investigate the role of state security forces, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary groups in the killings of activists, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and community organizers during the Duterte administration.
The group said there is a “clamor” to shed light on human rights violations beyond the drug war currently being investigated in the ICC, such as the killing of activists and critics branded as terrorists, communist rebels, or enemies of the state.
“The quad committee hearings must investigate the role of state security forces, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary groups in these killings. Witnesses like Madriaga, who worked within security apparatuses close to the Duterte family, may have knowledge not only of corruption schemes but also of operations targeting activists and dissenters,” they said.
They urged the House leadership to prioritize this investigation as part of its constitutional oversight duty.
“This is not partisan politics — this is about accountability and the right of the Filipino people to know the truth,” the group said.
The Office of the Vice President has yet to respond to queries from The Manila Times.