Atty. Paolo Panelo rejected claims linking Sara Duterte to alleged threats against detained witness Ramil Madriaga and challenged accusations raised by Madriaga’s camp, saying the claims lack proof and should be tested in court.
The dispute escalated after Madriaga alleged he had been offered between P500 million and P1 billion to stop him from testifying about accusations he made against Duterte. His lawyer said the supposed offer was meant to silence him as the political controversy surrounding the vice president intensified.
Panelo dismissed the bribery allegation and questioned Madriaga’s credibility. “Another ridiculous claim, and as usual with Madriaga, without proof,” Panelo said as he rejected the accusation.
Panelo said Duterte’s camp has no reason to stop Madriaga from speaking. He said the vice president actually wants Madriaga to testify in court so his statements can be challenged under cross examination and scrutinized publicly. Panelo said Duterte believes the legal process will expose what her camp considers false accusations.
Madriaga earlier alleged that he acted as Duterte’s “bagman” and handled drug money during the 2022 election campaign. Duterte denied the allegation and filed a perjury complaint against him.
Authorities have begun examining the situation following claims about possible threats to Madriaga’s safety while he remains detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. The National Bureau of Investigation said it is looking into reports that the alleged threat could be linked to the political dispute surrounding impeachment complaints against the vice president.
Panelo maintained that Duterte has no involvement in any threat against Madriaga and supported efforts to ensure his safety while the legal process moves forward. He said Duterte wants the accusations addressed in court where the claims can be tested through evidence and questioning.
