Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer Paolo Panelo, on Wednesday, August 19, said Ramil Madriaga could be a “star witness” for her impeachment defense, as Madriaga faces multiple perjury complaints over his statements related to the case.

In a virtual press briefing, Panelo said the defense could use Madriaga’s testimony to challenge the prosecution’s case against Duterte, whether or not the prosecution calls him to the witness stand.

Madriaga, who identified himself as a former aide and alleged bagman of the Vice President, is facing multiple perjury complaints filed by Duterte’s camp.

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“Wala naman kasing bearing kung mapatunayang nagsisinungaling siya sa impeachment court, kung walang nai-file kaso, walang consequence (It doesn’t really have any bearing if it’s proven that he is lying in the impeachment court, because if no case is filed, there will be no consequence),” Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte’s camp filed the criminal complaint against Madriaga to ensure that there would be consequences for what they described as his “lies.”

“Pero ayaw naming siyang pigilan mag-testify. In fact, matagal ko nang sinasabi, na si Ramil Madriaga ang magiging star witness for the defense kapag nag-testify siya (But we do not want to prevent him from testifying. In fact, I have been saying for a long time that Ramil Madriaga could be the defense’s star witness if he testifies),” he added.

He said this has been the defense’s position since the filing of the first perjury complaint against Madriaga.

“That’s always been our opinion from the very beginning of all of this,” Panelo said. “When we first filed the first perjury complaint, we said, parang Trojan horse ’yan si Ramil Madriaga,” he added.

Panelo explained that the defense believes Madriaga’s testimony could undermine the prosecution’s case against Duterte.

“Parang, because of that, magka-crumble yung kaso ng prosecution (It seems that because of that, the prosecution’s case would crumble),” he said.

However, Panelo clarified that his legal team was not in a position to direct Duterte’s impeachment defense team on whether to call Madriaga as a witness.

“We’re not in a position to recommend, of course, to the defense team na sige gamitin niyo kahit hindi ipapatawag (to go ahead and use him even if he won’t be formally presented),” he said.

Panelo also pointed out that Madriaga is included in the witness list submitted by Duterte’s impeachment defense team.

“So even if the prosecution doesn’t present him, the defense just might,” Panelo said.

Panelo earlier maintained that if the prosecution presents Madriaga, the defense would be prepared to challenge his testimony during cross-examination.

“I’ve said before, if the prosecution presents Ramil Madriaga, it’s their funeral,” Panelo said. “Kasi kakatayin ’yun sa cross-examination ng defense team (Because he will be slaughtered in the defense team’s cross-examination),” he added.

Panelo’s statements came as Duterte’s legal team filed a second perjury complaint against Madriaga, whom they accuse of giving false statements in a supplemental affidavit.

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