Metro Manila, Philippines – The camp of Ramil Madriaga rejected claims that he is the “weakest link” in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, challenging her to confront the witness during the April 14 House hearing.
In a statement, Madriaga’s lawyer, Raymund Palad, said attempts to discredit his client ahead of his testimony were premature and meant to influence public perception.
“We strongly reject the attempt to label my client as the ‘weakest link’ even before he has testified. This is a clear attempt to discredit a witness in advance and shape public perception ahead of the facts,” Palad said in a statement sent to NewsWatch Plus.
He said Madriaga is prepared to testify under oath and subject himself to full scrutiny.
“Mr. Madriaga is prepared to testify under oath where credibility is determined by evidence—not press briefings,” he added.
Palad also raised concerns over the timing of legal actions filed against his client, including perjury and libel complaints, saying these came just as Madriaga was about to testify.
“The timing raises serious questions as to whether these are genuine legal remedies or attempts to intimidate and discredit a key witness,” he said.
He challenged the Duterte camp to face the proceedings instead of attacking the witness publicly.
“If Atty. Panelo insists on calling my client the ‘weakest link,’ then the proper response is not rhetoric—but appearance,” Palad said, adding that Duterte should attend the hearing and answer under oath.
In an interview on The Newsmaker, Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo said Madriaga’s testimony would not hold and defended his public statements as part of countering what he described as earlier efforts to shape public opinion.
“I think they’ve done that well ahead of us by publicizing the affidavit… even before it was included in the impeachment complaints,” Panelo said.
He said the affidavit had been circulated publicly for months despite what he claimed was a lack of supporting evidence.
“He was called the bagman even if the affidavit contained absolutely no evidence at all,” Panelo added.
Panelo also denied any involvement in alleged threats against Madriaga, saying the Duterte camp wants him to testify.
“We want him to testify, we want him to trip on his lies for the world to see,” he said.
Madriaga is expected to testify before the House committee on justice on April 14 as lawmakers begin presenting key witnesses in the impeachment proceedings, including those linked to alleged misuse of confidential funds.
