Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno underscored the importance of hearing the testimony of Ramil Madriaga in the upcoming House Committee on Justice impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Lumalabas na si Madriaga ang isa sa pinakamahalagang testigo,” Diokno said in a radio interview. “Kailangan naming makita at marinig mismo sa bibig niya kung ano ang alam niya tungkol sa nakalagay sa kanyang salaysay.”
Madriaga earlier executed an affidavit claiming personal knowledge of Duterte’s alleged transactions, identifying himself as her former bagman.
Diokno explained that Madriaga is not a witness of the committee but of the complainants who filed the impeachment complaint.
“Hindi namin witness si Madriaga. Siya ay sinasabi ng mga complainant na may personal knowledge, kaya kailangan siyang marinig at ma-assess kung totoo ang kanyang sinasabi,” he said.
He added that the hearing provides the proper venue to assess credibility:
“Kung wala naman siyang alam at puro haka-haka lang, masasabi namin na hindi dapat matuloy ang kaso. Pero kung lumabas na totoo ang mga sinasabi niya sa kanyang affidavit, malaking bagay iyon.”
He stressed that confronting Madriaga directly would allow Duterte to “destroy Madriaga’s credibility.”
The impeachment hearing is scheduled for April 14, with Madriaga permitted by the Manila Regional Trial Court to attend. He is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Camp Bagong Diwa while facing a kidnapping case.