Madriaga 'comical' to claim Teves wants him dead — Duterte camp
Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Office of the City Prosecutor of Taguig City on Wednesday, March 4, to file perjury complaint against Ramil Madriaga, who claimed to be her former bagman. (OVP Photo)
The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte found it "comical" that self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga made claims that former Negros Oriental representative Arnie Teves wants him dead, prompting him to seek protection from the House of Representatives.
Lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo, Duterte's counsel in her perjury complaint against Madriaga, said the latter was lying again "to insinuate that VP Sara, through Teves, is behind the alleged threat to his life."
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier denied Madriaga's allegation that Duterte had visited him in detention, and it was Teves whom Duterte met.
"Since his lie was exposed, Madriaga has conveniently shifted his narrative," Panelo said in a statement on Friday, March 27.
On Wednesday, March 25, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno made a motion to place Madriaga under protective custody, citing various reasons, including his claim that he was dragged into a cell made by Teves.
Panelo said such an "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."
"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.