Sara Duterte's camp denies P125M confi funds disbursed in 24 hours

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday rejected allegations that P125 million in confidential funds were disbursed within 24 hours upon her instruction.

Duterte’s legal counsel Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. said the accusation by Ramil Madriaga, who introduced himself as a supposed former aide and bagman of Duterte, has no factual basis.

“Considering the source, which is Ramil Madriaga, tingin po natin kasinungalingan lahat 'yan (We believe it is all a lie),” Panelo told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

“Kasi wala naman po talaga siyang involvement at all doon sa confidential funds or kahit anuman in any capacity. Hindi naman siya nagsilbi bilang trabahante ni VP Sara,” he added.

(He has no involvement at all with the confidential funds or in any capacity. He did not serve as an employee of VP Sara.)

Madriaga made the claim on Tuesday during an impeachment hearing against Duterte at the House of Representatives.

For Panelo, Madriaga failed to present documentary proof to support his claims, noting that the alleged transactions were described as cash-based.

Proof?

He also questioned Madriaga’s credibility, saying that his supposed proof of ties to Duterte consisted only of campaign photos, group Zoom meetings, and a birthday greeting video.

According to Panelo, these do not establish their relationship as the photos were taken during campaign events and the virtual meetings involved election campaign volunteers during the pandemic.

Panelo said Duterte's birthday greeting video for Madriaga suggests that the Vice President did not know him as these messages are typically recorded upon request for individuals Duterte does not personally know.

On Madriaga signing a bank waiver, Panelo said it would only show accounts under Madriaga’s name and not prove any link to Duterte.

For Panelo, Madriaga may have ulterior motives.

“Actually, doon sa perjury complaint, napakita na natin 'yung motibo niya. Sa isang Facebook Messenger message na pinadala ni Madriaga to Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nolasco, sinabi niya doon na magiging state witness daw siya at 'yun ang magiging vehicle niya para makalabas ng kulungan,” Panelo said.

(In the perjury complaint we filed, we already showed his motive. In a Facebook Messenger message Madriaga sent to Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nolasco, he said that he will be a state witness and that would be his vehicle to get out of jail.)

“Sinasabi niya doon sa text message na ‘Colonel Nolasco, bumaliktad ka, sabihin mo na lang na sa akin mo binigay 'yung confidential funds at ako na lang magpapaliwanag kung saan ko dinala kasi ako, hindi naman ako makukulong kasi mag-state witness ako,’” he added.

(He said in the message "Colonel Nolasco, you should change sides, just say that you gave me the confidential funds and I will be the one to explain where I put it because I will not be jailed, I will be a state witness.")

Panelo justified Duterte’s absence at the impeachment proceedings, saying it would be pointless as there were supposed restrictions on the questions to confront Madriaga.

Flag, painting, politics

In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Panelo also addressed a video presented during the hearing showing Duterte interacting with Madriaga and accepting a flag.

According to him, Duterte did not personally know the individuals there and had to ask a campaign coordinator who among them she should acknowledge. 

She was then told to thank Madriaga, prompting the brief interaction where she received the flag.

Panelo also disputed Madriaga’s claim that he gifted Duterte a painting, saying the artwork was created and personally handed over by the artist.

In an Instagram story Tuesday, Davao-based artist Tanya Gaisano Lee said she personally gave the painting titled Señorita to Duterte in 2021.

“I gifted this painting to VP Sara when she was Mayor of Davao City in 2021. Anything stated otherwise is FALSE,” Lee said.

She also corrected circulating claims about her background, clarifying that she is neither a scholar nor from Laguna.

"I am from Davao: Life is here," she added. 

Meanwhile, Panelo also rejected allegations that Duterte visited or contacted Madriaga while he was detained, noting that earlier claims of a jail visit had already been denied by officials. 

According to Panelo, Madriaga has since altered his story.

Panelo said the defense is also looking into the possibility that political actors may be behind Madriaga’s allegations.

“Tingin po namin meron talagang taong nasa likod niya (Madriaga). Siempre kasi may makikinabang dito kapag ginamit siya sa impeachment,” Panelo said.

(We think there is someone behind Madriaga. Of course, someone will benefit from using him in the impeachment.)

“So, sino bang makikinabang dito? Siyempre yung mga kalaban ni VP Sara sa politika,” he added.

(So, who will benefit from this? Of course, VP Sara's political opponents.) —AOL/VAL, GMA News