What went before: From kidnap suspect to impeachment witness

MANILA, Philippines — Ramil Madriaga, who on Tuesday appeared at the House of Representatives as a key witness in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, is currently on trial for alleged kidnapping for ransom.

The case stemmed from the arrest of Madriaga and four other suspects on July 12, 2023, in Cainta, Rizal, for the kidnapping of cousins Mark and William Lu on June 3, 2022.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) then described Madriaga as the leader of “one of the most dangerous criminal syndicates in recent history.” The other arrested suspects were Jaime Patano, Ervyn Bernados, Ronald Alivio, and Richard Babagay.

At the time, Col. Moises Villaceran, then the head of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, said Madriaga was earlier charged with another kidnapping case in 1997, but that he was eventually acquitted by the Supreme Court.

READ: Madriaga: Rodrigo Duterte, ex-generals plotted to unseat Marcos

He again made headlines in December 2025 when, from detention, he submitted an affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman claiming to have worked for the Dutertes — first with then-President Rodrigo Duterte and later for his daughter, the incumbent vice president.

His supposed work for the family included “campaign and organizing activities, intelligence gathering and sabotage.’’

He said he was introduced to the elder Duterte by the late Rep. Roilo Golez, for whom he had worked as a “political officer specializing in intelligence gathering and sabotage operations.”

Madriaga, through his lawyer, has since claimed in the media that he faced harassment or life-threatening situations while in jail.

On March 4, Vice President Duterte filed a perjury complaint against him, maintaining she had neither personal nor professional dealings with Madriaga, including his claim that he had served as her “bagman’’ or courier for diverted confidential funds.

Madriaga is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Last April 7, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 granted the request of the House committee on justice to let Madriaga out of jail for a few hours so he could testify at the impeachment hearing. /atm