Prosecutor named in Madriaga’s ‘cash delivery’ claim told to explain
The Office of the Ombudsman is seeking an explanation from one of its prosecutors whose name cropped up in the testimony of Ramil Madriaga, the self-confessed ”bagman” of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Thursday said a show- cause order had been issued to Ryan Rey Quilala, an assistant special prosecutor at the antigraft body. The agency’s Internal Affairs Board (IAB) gave Quilala 48 hours to explain.
The order was issued on April 15, a day after Madriaga identified Quilala as one of the recipients of the large sums of cash he had delivered to the Ombudsman allegedly on Duterte’s instructions.
Madriaga, a kidnapping suspect currently on trial, was allowed by the court to testify before the House committee on justice on Tuesday as a witness in the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.
In the order, the IAB said Quilala was asked to explain also because Madriaga mentioned him earlier in an affidavit submitted to the Ombudsman in December last year.
Protecting ‘integrity’
“You are reminded that any proof of your participation in the alleged illegal activities with Mr. Madriaga may subject you to administrative and criminal prosecution,” said the order signed by Dante Vargas, the IAB chairperson and concurrent deputy ombudsman for the Visayas.
“This is something that we will pursue to make sure that the integrity of the office is still there,” Clavano said in a press conference.
Aside from tagging Quilala as a recipient of the cash, Madriaga alleged under oath that he also delivered money that was intended for then Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
He said the deliveries to Martires were made when he was still working for Sara’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a statement on Wednesday denying Madriaga’s claim, Martires questioned the witness’s logic: “If the public perception that I am close to former President Rodrigo Duterte is true, then why would the former president send me money through a nonentity when (he) can easily summon me so he can give me the money?”
Meeting with Madriaga eyed
Clavano said discussions had begun on the ”grave allegation” made against Martires, who retired as Ombudsman in July 2025.
But the IAB’s priority would be Quilala since the allegation against him appeared to be “much deeper” based on what had been said in the House proceedings, Clavano said.
Clavano also said the board is also considering having a “face-to-face” meeting with Madriaga — to weigh his credibility — after he’s done testifying at the House.
“I believe that the Office of the Ombudsman needs to have an opportunity to observe his (Madriaga’s) demeanor when the time comes,” he said.
“He is still testifying at the House. So, it might be a little bit confusing for Mr. Madriaga. So, we will let the House go first and then we will talk to him.”
Remulla to attend
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman received a subpoena from the House justice committee, asking it officers to attend the next impeachment hearing on April 22.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had expressed his intention to attend the hearing , Clavano said.
“We will be there to offer whatever information that we have to the House committee, and maybe we’ll go from there,” he said.
