Metro Manila, Philippines – The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday, March 27, dismissed claims of self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga that designated terrorist and former lawmaker Arnie Teves was behind the supposed threats to his life.
In a statement, Paolo Panelo, Duterte’s legal counsel, called Madriaga’s claim “comical” and an “obvious falsehood.”
Teves’ name surfaced at the House justice committee hearing on the impeachment suits against Duterte, after Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno read Madriaga’s affidavit, claiming that the former lawmaker wanted him dead.
“This obvious falsehood is entirely on brand for someone who has lied through his teeth about his supposed association with the vice president, and his own background,” Panelo said.
“The House justice committee’s blind acceptance of this ridiculous and unsubstantiated narrative from a ‘polluted source only’ confirms the committee’s willingness to entertain fabrications in pursuit of a politically motivated agenda,” he added.
Panelo said Madriaga shifted the narrative to insinuate that Duterte, through Teves, was behind the alleged threats to his life.
In December, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that Duterte visited the former lawmaker in October at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City amid speculations that she visited Madriaga who is in the same detention facility for kidnapping charges.
Madriaga will testify at the next impeachment hearing on April 14 on the strength of a House subpoena, with the chamber vowing additional protection.
He earlier claimed delivering duffle bags of cash to a number of people, supposedly on the orders of Duterte and her security aides in 2022 and 2023. The vice president later on filed a perjury complaint against Madriaga.
Meanwhile, Teves,is facing multiple murder charges in connection to the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023. He was deported back to the Philippines in May after two years of evading arrest.
