Metro Manila, Philippines – A lawyer for Vice President Sara Duterte said an intelligence report in 2024 flagged an alleged assassination plot against her involving a group linked to witness Ramil Madriaga, who is set to testify in the House impeachment proceedings.
Speaking in an interview on The Newsmaker, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. said the vice president was informed of the supposed threat before Madriaga surfaced publicly with allegations tied to confidential funds.
“There was an intelligence report that there was an assassination plot against her by the Madriaga kidnap-for-ransom group,” Panelo said.
He said Duterte did not initially connect the report to Madriaga, as she had no personal or professional relationship with him.
“Hindi niya kilala kung sino itong si Ramil Madriaga she only made the connection after lumabas na itong si Madriaga with his affidavit,” Panelo said.
[Translation: She did not know who Ramil Madriaga was… she only made the connection after he surfaced with his affidavit.]
Panelo said the alleged threat was not pursued further at the time and was “most probably ignored,” adding that Duterte’s interaction with Madriaga was limited to the 2022 campaign, where the latter was part of a volunteer group.
Madriaga, who has been identified as a key witness in the impeachment complaints, is currently in detention in connection with a kidnapping-for-ransom case, he said.
“He’s currently detained for kidnapping for ransom, he was also previously arrested and convicted of kidnapping for ransom,” Panelo said, questioning the witness’ credibility.
The lawyer said Madriaga also faces other criminal complaints, which the Duterte camp cites in challenging his testimony.
Madriaga is expected to appear before the House committee on justice on April 14 as lawmakers begin presenting witnesses and evidence, including those related to the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
NewsWatch Plus is reaching out to the Madriaga camp for comment.
