The legal team representing Vice President Sara Duterte has forcefully dismissed the recent testimony provided by Ramil Madriaga in the ongoing impeachment proceedings. In a statement released on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Duterte's camp labeled Madriaga as the "weakest link" in the case against the Vice President, asserting that their prior assessment of him has been "fully vindicated."
Questioning the Credibility of the Witness
Lawyer Salvador Panelo, speaking on behalf of Duterte's legal team, argued that Madriaga failed to effectively rebut what they described as "clear and convincing evidence" presented in a perjury complaint previously filed against him. The Vice President's camp accused Madriaga of focusing on what they termed "irrelevant and immaterial matters," including allegations that they claim were already debunked in earlier legal filings.
"Further, he only presented evidence on irrelevant and immaterial matters, including those already debunked in the perjury complaint; with his core allegations of cash deliveries and instructions through phone calls on prepaid phones conveniently and fatally unverifiable," Panelo stated emphatically.
Doubts Cast on Madriaga's Background
Duterte's team further cast significant doubt on Madriaga's personal background and credibility. They cited reports linking him to criminal activity, specifically alleging that he had been identified by the Philippine National Police as a leader of a kidnapping-for-ransom group. This background, they argued, makes it implausible that top government officials would entrust "sensitive security and intelligence matters" to an individual outside the established military and police chain of command.
The legal team emphasized that relying on someone with such alleged links for critical government operations would be highly irregular and questionable. This point forms a core part of their strategy to undermine Madriaga's testimony and overall reliability as a witness in the impeachment case.
The Broader Context of the Testimony
Ramil Madriaga's testimony is a key component of the impeachment proceedings currently being heard by the House Committee on Justice. This committee is tasked with the crucial responsibility of determining whether the complaints lodged against Vice President Sara Duterte possess sufficient merit and basis to proceed to a full trial in the Senate. The outcome of this committee's evaluation will significantly impact the political landscape.
Panelo concluded with a confident assertion regarding public perception: "Majority of the Filipino people will see through the lies and the performance, but we relish the opportunity to dismantle his claims once again." This statement underscores the legal team's belief in their position and their readiness to contest the allegations vigorously as the process continues.
