PAOLO Panelo Jr., legal counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte, denied claims by self-confessed security consultant Ramil Madriaga of death threats and an offer of up to P1 billion to stop him from testifying in impeachment proceedings against the vice president.
In an interview, Madriaga’s counsel, Raymund Palad, claimed his client was being threatened by a fellow inmate at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology compound in Taguig. He also said two government officials offered Madriaga between P500 million and P1 billion to recant his testimony.
Duterte filed perjury charges against Madriaga in Taguig on Wednesday. In a statement, Panelo said Duterte has nothing to do with any threats against Madriaga.
“[W]e join any calls to provide him with additional protection. We want him alive and in the pink of health because he’s the only one who can admit that he made up his testimony against the vice president and identify his handlers,” Panelo said.
Panelo told The Manila Times that Madriaga is the only one who can admit that the allegations against Duterte are false.
“He is the only one who can tell who his handlers are, and if he will stand by his testimony, he can add further to his allegations against VP Sara,” Panelo said.
Panelo described Madriaga’s affidavit as “overly broad” and unverifiable because it lacks specifics such as dates, exact locations, and the names of other involved individuals. In his affidavit, Madriaga claimed to be a Duterte supporter who received campaign funds from Philippine offshore gaming operators and drug money, as well as confidential funds from two former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group leaders.
“We want him to answer our complaint, give more details so we can destroy his testimony. So if there are calls to protect Ramil Madriaga, we agree to that,” Panelo said.
He added that Madriaga’s “worthless” testimony would be used in an impeachment trial that could “deprive the electorate of the public official that they voted for.”
“If this was not used in the impeachment trial, then VP Sara could have not filed this, but because this is used to deceive the public and subvert the will of the people, then he should be made liable,” Panelo said.
Panelo described claims of paying off Madriaga as “ridiculous,” stressing that Duterte’s camp wants Madriaga to testify so his “lies can be dismantled on cross-examination for the world to see.”
“There’s no sense for us to stop him from revealing himself as a fraud,” Panelo said.