Madriaga: Rody Duterte plotted coup, assassination vs Marcos

Detainee Ramil Madriaga, a confessed bagman for Vice President Sara Duterte, accused former President Rodrigo Duterte of allegedly plotting an assassination—or, if not, a coup—against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should he fail to step down by 2025.

Madriaga made the claim in a supplemental affidavit submitted before the House justice panel during the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.

He alleged that Marcos and the Duterte camp had agreed during a November 2021 meeting—before the 2022 presidential elections—that Marcos would step down in 2025 to pave the way for a Sara Duterte presidency.

“Former President Duterte said Senator Imee visited him to discuss a possible alliance in the 2022 national elections. During this meeting, BBM was able to convince PRRD to have Sara as BBM’s vice president," Madriaga said.

"However, they also agreed that by 2025, BBM will voluntarily step down to give way to a Sara presidency. After Sara took her oath as Vice President, PRRD had a discussion with retired generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, where I was also present, regarding all possible scenarios for unseating BBM by 2025 in case he reneges on his promise,” he added.

He said the alleged plan aimed to shorten Marcos’ presidency and pave the way for a Sara Duterte bid in 2028, including moves to undermine his administration through alleged internal sabotage and a possible impeachment case.

“The general objective was to ensure that BBM will serve less than four years of his term as President so that Sara, upon assumption to the presidency, will still be eligible for the presidency in 2028," he said.

"I remember that one of the plans considered was to sabotage BBM’s administration by using some of BBM’s own men—either recommended by PRRD for appointment or allied with the Dutertes—to expose alleged corruption issues that would serve as a precursor for an impeachment complaint,” Madriaga added.

Madriaga further alleged that “in the event that BBM will not voluntarily step down or hand over the presidency to Sara, extraordinary measures to overthrow BBM will be considered, which include assassination, mass resignation of government officials, civil disobedience, and even an armed assault on Malacañang Palace.”

He also claimed that Duterte allegedly attempted to arrange assassinations or armed attacks against several government officials to trigger civil unrest, which could then be used as a basis to organize military officers for a coup.

“One of my assignments was to recruit civil groups, school clubs, fraternities, criminal groups, and syndicates,” Madriaga said.

During the same hearing, Madriaga said the Vice President initially considered a presidential run in 2022. He also claimed he helped establish the Initiative for Social Justice, Innovation, and Progress Pilipinas (ISIP Pilipinas), Inc., which he said stands for “Inday Sara is my President,” in support of her candidacy.

Madriaga said ISIP was used to raise funds for the Vice President’s alleged 2022 presidential bid, and that Pharmally financial officer Lin Wei Xiong was among its funders.

“Sometime in June or July 2021, former President Duterte informed me that someone would call me to directly coordinate the turnover of P175 million to fund ISIP’s organizing efforts, promotions, and campaign activities." Madriaga said.

"Thereafter, a man called me to proceed to the basement parking of Seda Hotel in Quezon City to pick up the said amount. Thus, I hurriedly went to the place with my cousin Rosendo Madriaga,” he added.

He said the money was placed inside several backpacks and bags handed to him at the basement parking area, which he then loaded into his white Toyota Land Cruiser.

“Lin Wei Xiong was present when I received the said amount together with two other individuals. He then asked where the money would be used. I informed him that it would be used to fund Sara’s election bid, to which he replied, ‘good, good.’ I directly brought the money to my house for safekeeping," he said.

"Thereafter, I used the money to fund ISIP campaign activities across the country and to establish, organize, and maintain its chapters for the purpose of promoting Sara’s presidential bid in the 2022 national elections,” Madriaga added.

He said the group’s chapters included areas in Quezon, Binangonan, Bicol, Antipolo, Quezon City, Zambales, and Leyte.

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday rejected Madriaga's allegations, calling his statements “pure fiction” and lacking evidence.

In a statement, Duterte’s legal counsel Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. has said Madriaga’s claims of a supposed secret term-sharing agreement, a planned ouster, and assassination plots against President Marcos Jr. were “not even remotely believable.”

“His allegations of a secret term-sharing agreement, planned ouster, and assassination plots against PBBM are pure fiction, and not even remotely believable,” Panelo said.—MCG, GMA News