MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Justice has formally issued a subpoena to Ramil Lagunoy Madriaga, a detained individual who claims to have acted as a "bagman" for Vice President Sara Duterte, ordering him to appear and testify at the upcoming impeachment hearing on April 14.
The subpoena ad testificandum et duces tecum, signed by Committee on Justice Chairperson Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" R. Lustro and attested by Secretary General Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, directs Madriaga to appear at 10:00 a.m. at the People Center in the House of Representatives compound in Quezon City.
According to the official document issued Monday, April 6, 2026, Madriaga is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Key Evidence Required from Detained Witness
Aside from his physical appearance, Madriaga is required to produce the original copy of his sworn affidavit dated November 29, 2025, along with "any other evidence in his possession" relevant to the impeachment proceedings against the vice president.
The subpoena explicitly states the purpose of Madriaga's testimony: that he "worked for the Vice President and formed the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG)," and that between 2022 and 2023, he "received the Office of the Vice-President's and Department of Education's confidential funds from VPSPG's Col. Lachica and delivered them to the Vice-President's friends and acquaintances."
The sworn affidavit, dated nearly five months ago, is expected to contain detailed accounts of the alleged fund transfers that form the backbone of the impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte.
Confidential Funds Distribution Under Investigation
The subpoena places the handling of confidential funds at the center of the impeachment investigation. The Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education — both headed by Duterte during the period in question — have faced sustained scrutiny over alleged misuse of intelligence and confidential allocations.
Madriaga's testimony could provide first-hand accounts of how these funds were allegedly disbursed outside official channels, potentially bolstering the impeachment case built around financial irregularities and breach of public trust.
The VPSPG, which Madriaga claims to have helped establish, has been previously flagged in congressional inquiries as a security unit operating with limited oversight and questionable fund flows. The involvement of Col. Lachica in the alleged fund transfers adds a military dimension to the investigation.
Restricted Legal Representation During Proceedings
The subpoena informs Madriaga that he has the right to be accompanied by legal counsel during the proceedings. However, in accordance with House rules governing impeachment hearings, his lawyer will be restricted to an advisory capacity and will not be permitted to speak or otherwise participate in the proceedings.
The document warns that failure to comply with the subpoena "is subject to penalty under the law," underscoring the mandatory nature of his appearance before the committee.
This limitation on legal representation reflects the House's institutional approach to impeachment proceedings, where the focus remains on direct testimony from witnesses rather than adversarial legal arguments.
Multiple Impeachment Complaints Converge
The subpoena was issued in connection with the verified impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte filed by Reverend Father Joel Saballa and others, endorsed by Rep. Leila M. de Lima, as well as a separate complaint filed by Atty. Nathaniel G. Cabrera, endorsed by Representatives Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. and Paolo P. Ortega V.
The House Committee on Justice, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over impeachment proceedings, has been conducting hearings since the complaints were referred to the body. The convergence of multiple complaints suggests broad-based concern over the vice president's handling of public funds.
Speaker Faustino "Bojie" G. Dy III also signed the subpoena, underscoring the institutional weight behind the committee's directive and the formal nature of the impeachment process.
Strategic Timing of Critical Testimony
The April 14 session is expected to be a critical evidentiary hearing, with Madriaga's testimony potentially corroborating or contradicting existing accounts of how confidential funds were handled under the vice president's offices.
His status as a self-described bagman — someone who physically transported and delivered cash — places him at the operational level of the fund flow, making his testimony particularly significant for the committee's fact-finding process.
The timing of the hearing, coming after months of investigation and document gathering, suggests the committee is moving toward a more definitive phase of the impeachment inquiry.
Broader Implications for Executive Accountability
Should Madriaga testify as ordered, his account would represent one of the most direct testimonies linking the vice president to the alleged irregular disbursement of public funds. The case has drawn national attention as it involves the second-highest official in the Philippines and raises questions about the oversight of confidential government allocations.
The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte mark a significant moment in Philippine politics, as impeachment cases against sitting vice presidents are relatively rare in the country's democratic history.
The handling of confidential funds has been a recurring issue in Philippine governance, with various administrations facing scrutiny over the transparency and accountability of intelligence and security-related expenditures.
Congressional Oversight Powers in Action
The subpoena demonstrates the House of Representatives' exercise of its constitutional impeachment powers, particularly its ability to compel testimony from witnesses who may have direct knowledge of alleged misconduct by impeachable officials.
The committee's approach of requiring both testimony and documentary evidence reflects standard investigative procedures designed to build a comprehensive factual record for potential impeachment proceedings.
The April 14 hearing is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the impeachment proceedings, with the committee expected to use Madriaga's testimony to establish the chain of custody for the contested confidential funds and determine whether the evidence supports the allegations of financial misconduct.
The outcome of this testimony could significantly influence the direction of the impeachment case and the political landscape surrounding the vice presidency.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Kuryente News