Ramil Madriaga signs bank secrecy waiver

Ramil Madriaga, who identified himself as a former aide and alleged bagman of Vice President Sara Duterte, on Tuesday signed a waiver allowing the House of Representatives to examine the bank accounts cited in his supplemental affidavit. 

Madriaga signed the bank secrecy waiver during the House justice committee’s hearing on the impeachment complaints against Duterte. It was his first appearance in the proceedings.

“As to the contents of this bank secrecy law, do you subscribe and swear to the truthfulness of the contents of this document?” House justice committee chairperson Representative Gerville Luistro asked.

Madriaga answered in the affirmative and confirmed he is well aware of the implications of waiving his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law. 

Earlier, he said he served as a “dummy” for ex-President Rodrigo Duterte for bank transactions of huge amounts of money. He said that despite only earning P100,000 to P150,0000 for his services, millions of pesos went through the bank accounts opened by the former President’s “close associates” under his name. 

“However, I have never personally opened these accounts or appeared before the said banks to process any application in relation thereto,” Madriaga said in his supplemental affidavit.

“These were opened by people close to PRRD who informed me that money will be transferred to these accounts for ‘intelligence operations’ and for laundering. I was later instructed to sign entire checkbooks where the amounts and payees are left blank. I agreed to do this because, at the time, I had complete trust in PRRD and his close associates,” he said. 

The bank accounts include: 

• China Bank Legazpi Village Makati City
• China Bank- Main Makati City
• China Bank near the fire station in Ayala Makati City
• PNB Makati Metropolitan Avenue Branch, Makati City
• an unknown bank in Pasig City
• an unknown bank in a mall in Lubao, Pampanga

House excuses Madriaga

Following his testimony, the House panel approved a motion excusing Madriaga from the proceedings, citing time constraints. He was only allowed to attend the hearing until 5 p.m.

READ: Who is Ramil Madriaga?

The House security, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were likewise directed to return Madriaga to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where he is currently detained. 

In his supplemental affidavit, Madriaga said he delivered P125 million of Duterte’s confidential funds to three locations in 24 hours upon her instruction. He also 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. —AOL/BM, GMA News