21/08/2026
PERJURY CASE #2: Kaso Laban sa Kasinungalingan - O Laban sa Testimonya?
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Here’s the part people should understand: Vice President Sara Duterte’s second perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga does NOT, by itself, prove that Madriaga lied. At hindi rin nito magically binubura ang kanyang testimony sa impeachment proceedings. A complaint is an accusation. Evidence still has to do the heavy lifting.
Noong March 4, Sara Duterte filed her first perjury complaint against Madriaga after he accused her of involvement in questionable cash deliveries and campaign funding. Then on August 17, she personally filed a second perjury complaint before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office, this time attacking allegedly false statements in Madriaga’s April supplemental affidavit. Her camp says the filing runs to around 1,000 pages, with Duterte’s sworn testimony, statements from 12 witnesses, official documents, messages, photos and other records.
Pero tandaan natin:
1,000 pages is a measurement of paper, not automatically a measurement of truth.
Hindi porke makapal ang complaint, manipis na agad ang credibility ng witness.
And Madriaga is not some irrelevant side character in this political drama. He claims he once worked for the Dutertes and served as a “bagman.” During the House impeachment hearings, he alleged that the ₱125-million OVP confidential fund was actually disposed of in less than 24 hours, describing four large bags of cash and alleged deliveries to several recipients. Duterte has categorically denied knowing him and denies his accusations.
Madriaga’s credibility absolutely deserves scrutiny. He is currently detained and facing a kidnapping-for-ransom case, which the defense can—and surely will - use to challenge him.
But credibility is tested by cross-examination, corroboration and evidence - not by counting how many cases have been filed against the witness.
And this is where the story gets interesting.
Madriaga’s lawyers did not run away from the second complaint. They welcomed it. Their position is essentially: bring the accusations to the proper forum and test them. They said their client is prepared to answer using “actual, competent, and independently verifiable evidence,” stressing that a complaint—whether 10 pages or 1,000—does not establish guilt.
At dito dapat maging very careful ang publiko.
Sara Duterte has every right to defend herself. If Madriaga deliberately lied under oath, then prosecute him and prove it.
But Madriaga also has the right to present his evidence.
Hindi puwedeng ang public narrative ay:
May perjury complaint = sinungaling na ang witness = tapos na ang usapan.
That is not how evidence works.
Otherwise, napakadaling formula niyan:
May whistleblower? File-an ng kaso.
May damaging witness? File-an ulit.
May bagong affidavit? Another complaint.
Then announce: “Sinungaling siya!”
But accusations against the accuser are still accusations.
The real question remains unanswered:
CAN HIS CLAIMS BE INDEPENDENTLY CORROBORATED?
Because if Madriaga is lying, evidence should destroy his story.
But if documents, bank records, witnesses, cash-withdrawal records or other independent evidence begin matching significant portions of his account, then no amount of dramatic legal paperwork can make those facts disappear.
That is why the impeachment court should not be distracted by who filed more cases against whom.
Follow the money.
Follow the documents.
Follow the witnesses.
Follow the contradictions.
And let both sides undergo the same brutal test of evidence.
Because the Filipino people are not asking:
“Sino ang mas magaling mag-file ng complaint?”
We are asking:
“SAAN NAPUNTA ANG PERA?”
At kung nagsisinungaling si Madriaga, expose him.
But kung nagsasabi siya ng totoo?
Then filing Perjury Case #2 will not erase the truth. It will only give the truth another courtroom in which to prove itself.
Hindi nasusukat ang katotohanan sa kapal ng complaint.
Nasusukat ito sa bigat ng ebidensya.
And in an impeachment involving public money, the Filipino people deserve receipts - not intimidation, not theatrics, and definitely not shortcuts to the truth.
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📚 SOURCES:
- PhilStar: Sara Duterte files another perjury complaint vs Ramil Madriaga (Aug 17, 2026)
🔗 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/08/17/2549911/sara-duterte-files-another-perjury-complaint-vs-ramil-madriaga?
- Inquirer: Sara Duterte files another perjury case vs Madriaga (Aug 18, 2026)
🔗 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2286768/sara-duterte-files-another-perjury-rap-vs-madriaga
- Daily Tribune: Madriaga camp: Perjury case offers chance to defend claims (Aug 18, 2026)
🔗 https://tribune.net.ph/2026/08/18/madriaga-camp-perjury-case-offers-chance-to-defend-claims
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