Ex-Ombudsman Martires received money from Duterte, says ex-bagman

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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com

April 14, 2026 | 5:10pm

File Photo of Former Ombudsman Samuel Martires

The STAR / Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — Former Ombudsman Samuel Martires received money from former president Rodrigo Duterte, according to self-proclaimed "bagman" Ramil Madriaga on Tuesday, April 14. 

During the House of Representatives’ justice committee hearing on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, Madriaga said he delivered and received money on her behalf multiple times.

Madriaga also described an incident in which he was tasked to deliver money to three different locations. He said he received P175 million from Pharmally boss Lin Wei Xiong and was instructed to distribute it to three separate locations.

One of the locations was the Office of the Ombudsman. 

Assistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Rey Quilala of the Office of the Ombudsman helped establish “Inday Sara Is My President” or ISIP. Madriaga recalled being close to Quilala, whom he called “Atty. Ryan.”

“Upon the request of Atty. Ryan, I personally delivered P15,000,000 to him in his office at the Office of the Ombudsman,” Madriaga read from his sworn affidavit. 

While Madriaga did not explicitly claim that the P15 million was intended for Martires, he said that both Rodrigo and Sara instructed him to deliver money “to Ombudsman Samuel Martires or Atty. Ryan.”

Martires is an appointee of the former president and was often criticized for the allegedly dismal pursuit of corruption cases during the previous administration.

Madriaga also said that Quilala was Sara's professor at San Sebastian College of Law.

“He shared with me that Sara was not particularly good in school, was often struggling with her academics, and habitually rude and violent to other students. Hence, Atty. Rvan used his influence in SSC-Law to ensure that Sara received passing grades despite her poor academic performance,” Madriaga said.

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