Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon has challenged Vice President Sara Duterte to personally attend the upcoming impeachment hearing, after her lawyer branded witness Ramil Madriaga as the “weakest link.”
Ridon said that if Duterte truly believes the assessment made by her counsel, Atty. Paolo Panelo, during a press conference on Sunday, then appearing before the House Committee on Justice on April 14 should not be a problem.
“Kung sinasabi ho nila na weakest link ho si Mr. Madriaga, ang remedyo rito hindi po ‘yung presscon kundi ‘yung April hearings,” Ridon remarked.
“Ang sabi nga po ni Atty. Panelo, nagpapatawag ho sila ng press con ngayong araw na ito para unahan na lang ito magaganap po na April 14 proceedings, baka daw po may maniwala.”
He added:
“Ang pinakamahalaga at pinakamabigat po… para po pasinungalingan ang sinasabi po ni Mr. Madriaga ay dapat humarap ang pangalawang pangulo sa April 14 House impeachment hearings.”
According to Ridon, the hearing provides Duterte with the proper venue to disprove allegations against her.
“Hindi po sa pamamagitan ng isang press conference ng kanyang abogado… Kasi nga ho, ‘yun po talaga ang plataporma para mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang atin pong pangalawang pangulo na ilahad ang kanya pong depensa laban sa mga paratang sa kanya,” he said.
He stressed that confronting Madriaga directly would allow Duterte to “destroy Madriaga’s credibility.”
Ridon also pointed out that Panelo is representing Duterte only in her perjury case against Madriaga, not in the impeachment proceedings.
“So, I don’t think meron po siyang poder para magbigay ng komentaryo doon sa pagtahakbo ng defense panel strategy dito sa usapin po na ito,” Ridon said.
“Ang dapat po nagsasalita diyan ay myembro po ng Duterte defense Panel sa impeachment proceedings, hindi po ‘yung abogado… para sabihin niya na weakest link si Mr. Madriaga.”
The lawmaker further argued that Duterte’s petition before the Supreme Court questioning the impeachment process could weaken if she participates in the hearings.
“In the moment na magpakita ang Pangalawang Pangulo doon, ang kanyang kaso sa Korte Suprema I think will be mooted entirely,” Ridon said.
“While malaya ang ating pangalawang pangulo na humarap… she will be afforded all her rights. But again, in terms of their legal strategy, she will have acknowledged the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Justice,” he added.