Fact Check: No Supreme Court Order for Ramil Madriaga's Detention in Philippines

A false claim circulated on YouTube alleging that the Supreme Court issued an order to detain Ramil Madriaga, described as Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged former bagman. The claim, posted on April 15, 2026, has garnered over 9,200 views. Fact-checking reveals no such Supreme Court directive exists.

Madriaga has been detained since 2023 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. His custody stems from a pending kidnapping-for-ransom case before a Manila Regional Trial Court. Officials confirmed this detention is based on lower-court commitment orders, not any recent high court action.

In late 2025, Madriaga executed a notarized affidavit dated November 29, 2025, submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman by December 15, 2025. The document alleged ties to Vice President Duterte and involvement in activities related to confidential funds, intelligence operations, and other matters.

These allegations were later included in House impeachment complaints filed in 2026. Madriaga reappeared publicly on April 14, 2026, when he was temporarily allowed to leave detention to testify before the House justice committee. This occurred during the second impeachment hearing against Duterte.

He reiterated claims from his 2025 affidavit under oath.

During the hearing, Madriaga stated that P125 million in Office of the Vice President confidential funds for December 2022 was spent within 24 hours, not 11 days. He described coordinating the transfer of cash bundles to locations including Cabuyao, Quezon City, and near the Office of the Ombudsman. After testifying, he was returned to detention the same day.

“Sara Duterte’s P125M spent ‘in less than 24 hours,’ not 11 days, says bagman" — Rappler article title, April 27, 2026 (Rappler). Days after the hearing, the Commission on Audit issued a notice of disallowance dated March 31, 2026. This ordered the return of P375 million in Office of the Vice President confidential funds for 2023. It also reinforced a prior ruling requiring the return of P73 million in disallowed 2022 expenses, with 180 days given to contest the decision.”

The misleading YouTube video was uploaded by a channel called PINAS BALITA TV, which has 170,000 subscribers. The video's title suggested Madriaga faced karma with no escape due to a signed Supreme Court order. The narrator claimed the content was viral on social media and implied Duterte would prevail despite criticisms.

No evidence supports the video's assertion of a Supreme Court involvement in Madriaga's detention. Fact-checkers emphasized that his ongoing custody relates solely to the 2023 court case. The video has received 787 likes and 64 comments as of April 27, 2026.

Madriaga's testimony forms part of the broader impeachment efforts against Vice President Duterte. The House justice committee continues its hearings based on the complaints incorporating his allegations. Officials have not commented on potential further developments in the case.

The Commission on Audit's actions highlight scrutiny over confidential fund usage in the Office of the Vice President. The 180-day period for contesting the disallowance began in late March 2026. This timeline aligns with ongoing political discussions in the Philippines.