VP Sara Duterte on alleged visit to Teves: I neither confirm nor deny

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday remained mum on Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s disclosure that she supposedly visited former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in a jail facility in Taguig City. 

In an interview in Davao City, the Vice President was asked to confirm is she indeed visited Teves – the alleged mastermind in the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo – at Camp Bagong Diwa.

“Bahala sila kung anong gusto nilang sabihin. Basta ako, ang sinabi ko, hindi ko kilala si Ramil Madriaga,” Duterte said. 

(It’s up to them to say what they want to say. For me, I’ve said that I don’t know Ramil Madriaga.)

On Tuesday, Remulla said Duterte visited a jail facility at Camp Bagong Diwa to see Teves, and not Madriaga.

Madriaga claimed to be the Vice President’s former aide and alleged that drug dealers and Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) are funding the campaign Inday Sara Duterte is My President (ISIP) Pilipinas.

Asked if she really visited Teves in jail, Duterte said, “Ang sinasabi ko, wala akong iko-confirm at ide-deny.”

(What I’m saying is that I’m not confirming nor denying anything.) 

“Kung gusto nila sila ang magsalita, then magsalita sila. Basta ang sinasabi ko, hindi ko kilala si Ramil Madriaga,” she added.

(If they want to say something, let them be. What I only want to say is that I don’t know who Ramil Madriaga is.) 

Earlier this week, Duterte refuted that she has a personal relationship with Madriaga, stressing that he has offered no proof nor documents to support his “bare allegations.” 

The Vice President further alleged that Madriaga appears to be “acting out of desperation” to secure his release from detention. 

“He is now disseminating false statements to government authorities as part of a concerted effort to obstruct and undermine my possible candidacy for President,” she said. 

According to Madriaga, he worked with Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Lachica regarding tactical transport services, securing Duterte and other VIPs, and transporting large amounts of money to people from July 2022 to April 2023. 

One of the sections in his affidavit was titled “confidential funds,” where he detailed alleged instances wherein he delivered millions and even a billion in cash. 

Madriaga is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa on a kidnapping for ransom charge.

No talks with Bato

Furthermore, Duterte said she has not been in touch with Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa recently, amid the reported arrest warrant against him from the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

“Hindi kami nagkausap ni Senator Bato ngayong panahon ng Pasko. Ang huling pagkausap namin ay ‘yung araw na nagsabi na merong warrant of arrest para sa kanya,” she said. 

(Senator Bato and I haven’t spoken this Christmas. We last talked on the day that news of the warrant of arrest against him came out.)

Dela Rosa’s lawyer Atty. Israelito Torreon said the senator is avoiding public appearances because “his personal safety is at stake” amid the alleged ICC arrest warrant. 

Dela Rosa has not been attending the session at the Senate since November 11. 

This came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that the ICC has issued a warrant of arrest against him over the controversial war on drugs during the Duterte administration. 

Cabral death

The Vice President also weighed in on the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

“I think makakaapekto ito sa mental wellness ng mga undersecretary at mga assistant secretary diyan sa mga opisina ng mga departments… Dahil ‘yung mga kaparte ng anomalya, mag-iisip na sila kung mahuhulog din ba sila sa bangin,” she said.

(I think this will affect the mental wellness of the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries in the departments...Because those involved in the anomalies might wonder if they too might end up falling from a cliff.)

Duterte also declined to speculate if there was foul play in Cabral’s death.

Cabral, who was linked to anomalous flood control projects, was found on December 18 “unconscious and unresponsive” 20 to 30 meters below a highway – hours after she instructed her driver to leave her at a portion of Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. She was later pronounced dead shortly after midnight on December 19.

Tired of impeachment talk

Meanwhile, Duterte said she believes that Filipinos are now getting tired of alleged ipeachment plans against her.

“Nakakapagod na siya para sa taong bayan, ‘yung impeachment na ‘yan dahil nakikita naman natin na wala talaga ang ebidensya ‘yung kanilang mga reklamo. Totally for threats and harassment lang,” she said. 

(People are getting tired of the impeachment because we can see that there is no evidence for the complaints. That’s totally for threats and harassment only.)

Earlier, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said it is preparing a fresh impeachment complaint against the Vice President in time for the end of the constitutionally mandated one-year ban on such complaints on February 5, 2026.

Previously, Duterte said she was not surprised by the plans to refile an impeachment complaint against her and alleged that it is being used as a “bargaining chip” by certain lawmakers before the passage of the 2026 national budget.

2026 budget

As to the P6.793 trillion proposed national budget for 2026, Duterte expressed her belief that it should be signed before the year ends, otherwise it would result in a reenacted budget. 

“Dili pwede uy. Dapat before December 31, pirmahan ang budget, otherwise magre-enact ‘yan kung hindi pirmado by December 31,” she explained. 

(That should not be the case. The budget must be signed before December 31, otherwise it will be reenacted if it is not signed by December 31.) 

“Reenact meaning, ang 2025 budget will continue to take effect, will carry on. So, dapat pirmahan siya before December 31,” she added.

(This means the 2025 budget will continue to take effect, will carry on. So, it must be signed before December 31.) 

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed on Wednesday that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos will sign the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) in the first week of January. 

The Vice President also declined to greet Marcos on Christmas Day. — JMA, GMA Integrated News