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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Madriaga testimony makes VP Duterte shake in her boots, congressman claims

Madriaga testimony makes VP Duterte shake in her boots, congressman claims

Published Mar 13, 2026 06:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Vice President Sara Duterte fears Ramil Madriaga's testimony. This was Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua's rejoinder of Vice President Duterte's criticism of the House of Representatives, which stemmed from its handling of the detained Ramil Madriaga as a key witness in the latter's impeachment case.
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua's (left), Vice President Duterte (PPAB, MANILA BULLETIN)
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua's (left), Vice President Duterte (PPAB, MANILA BULLETIN)


Vice President Sara Duterte fears Ramil Madriaga's testimony.
This was Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua's rejoinder of Vice President Duterte's criticism of the House of Representatives, which stemmed from its handling of the detained Ramil Madriaga as a key witness in the latter's impeachment case.
"As of now, the Vice President has not yet submitted her formal pleading in response to the remaining impeachment complaints. She has every right under the rules to file or not file such pleadings," Chua said on Friday, March 13.
"If she chooses not to do so, that may well be part of a legal strategy to reserve her main defense for the Senate, where the actual impeachment trial will take place," noted the lawyer-legislator.
"Ironically, however, her latest public statement appears to reveal aspects of that defense strategy. So, takot pala talaga siya sa mga nalalaman ni Madriaga (So, she's really afraid of what Madriaga knows)," Chua said.
Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, reckoned that such statements from Duterte may ultimately aid the House when it performs its constitutional duty of presenting the articles of impeachment before the Senate.
"More importantly, the tone and substance of the Vice President’s statement suggest fear rather than truth. It appears directed primarily at her political base in an effort to shape public opinion through misleading narratives," he said.
The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, recently declared two impeachment complaints filed against Duterte as sufficient in both form and substance.
The panel is waiting on the Vice President to answer in writing the allegations contained in the two impeachment complaints.
Earlier Friday, Vice President Duterte insisted that there was no basis for the lower chamber to impeach her.
"Even more disturbing is the treatment now being extended to Madriaga, an alleged kidnapper who fabricated an entire story. The request that he be given special treatment in the House of Representatives is a grave insult to the minor victim who was traumatized by his criminal acts," she noted.
In his affidavit that was leaked last year, Madriaga claimed that Vice President Duterte’s election campaign effort in 2022 was funded with money from Philippine Offshore and Gaming Operators (POGO) and drug dealers.
He also alleged to have acted as the Vice President's bagman and made multi-million peso cash deliveries.
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