Sara Duterte camp: Madriaga could be 'star witness' for defense in impeachment trial

Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal counsel on Wednesday said Ramil Madriaga could become a “star witness” for the defense if he is presented during the impeachment trial.

Speaking at a press briefing via Zoom, lawyer Paolo Panelo said Madriaga is included in the witness list submitted by Duterte’s defense team, even as there are reports that the prosecution may no longer present him.

“If the prosecution presents Ramil Madriaga, it’s their funeral kasi kakatayin yan sa cross-examination ng (because he will be slaughtered by the) defense team,” Panelo said.

Panelo said the defense is confident it can challenge Madriaga’s testimony using evidence gathered for the perjury complaints filed against him.

The legal team filed a second perjury complaint against Madriaga on Monday, accusing him of making false statements in his supplemental affidavit.

Panelo said the camp will also seek the consolidation of the first and second perjury complaints, arguing that both involve substantially the same facts, events and circumstances.

“We believe that Madriaga’s supplemental affidavit and all its lies will prove that the first one is perjurios,” Panelo said in Filipno.

Among the claims disputed by the legal team were Madriaga’s alleged deliveries of cash in Cabuyao, Laguna; at a Japanese restaurant in Tomas Morato; and at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Panelo said Madriaga’s claim that he could see an S&R establishment from an industrial park in Cabuyao was inaccurate because, according to the legal team, there is no S&R branch in the area.

He also questioned Madriaga’s account of allegedly delivering a large bag to a Japanese restaurant around midnight on Dec. 21, 2022.

Panelo said the establishment was holding a private Christmas party at the time, with more than 40 people present. He said the restaurant owner and the person who booked the event had executed affidavits supporting the camp’s account.

On the alleged delivery to the Ombudsman, Panelo said Atty. Ryan Quilala, whom Madriaga allegedly identified as the intended recipient, was working from home throughout December 2022 under an alternative work arrangement.

Panelo also said Ombudsman Samuel Martires was not in the country on Dec. 21, 2022.

The legal team likewise cited an affidavit from artist Tanya Gaisano-Li, who Panelo said was the actual painter of a painting that Madriaga allegedly claimed to have given to Duterte.

Panelo said Gaisano-Li certified that she painted and personally gave the artwork to the Vice President.

The second complaint also includes evidence questioning a manager’s check allegedly presented by Madriaga. Panelo said the document differed from authentic LandBank manager’s checks obtained by the legal team for comparison.

According to Panelo, the second complaint runs to around 750 pages and includes five new affidavits. The first and second complaints together contain affidavits from 12 witnesses, he said.

Defense may call Madriaga

Panelo said the possible decision of the prosecution not to present Madriaga would not necessarily prevent him from testifying.

“He can be called by the defense precisely for this reason,” Panelo said.

He maintained that the defense does not want to prevent Madriaga from taking the witness stand.

“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,” he said. (But we do not want to prevent him from testifying. In fact, I have been saying for a long time that Ramil Madriaga will be the defense’s star witness if he testifies)

The legal team also plans to provide the impeachment defense with copies of the second perjury complaint and its supporting evidence for possible use during the proceedings.

Panelo said the camp is still securing additional certifications and records that could further support the complaint against Madriaga. — RSJ, GMA News