A HOUSE leader on Friday appealed to government security agencies to ensure the safety of Ramil Madriaga, a key personality whose affidavit forms part of the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, as the House Committee on Justice proceeds with its hearings.
House Committee on Suffrage Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur stressed the need to protect the individual identified as Madriaga, whose testimony and sworn statement are cited in portions of the third and fourth impeachment complaints.
“Well una I think we really have to appeal to our security agencies especially the one that is handling in custody the personality of Madriaga to make sure na safe naman siya, na nothing would ever happen to him especially now that the impeachment complaint against the vice president is proceeding,” Adiong told reporters in an ambush interview.
He underscored that Madriaga’s testimony could play a crucial role once the committee reaches the stage where witnesses may be called to corroborate the allegations raised in the complaints.
“Very critical kasi din yung testimony niya, ‘yung affidavit na ginawa niya doon sa, kung di ako nagkakamali, sa third or fourth impeachment complaint. So it is incumbent upon our security agencies to ensure that Madriaga will be safe when his testimony is heard in the committee,” he added.
According to Adiong, parts of the impeachment in the two complaints cite Madriaga’s affidavit, making his availability important to the proceedings.
“The allegations are very serious so we just have to make sure that Madriaga will be available once we reach the stage that the committee will be needing his presence in order to corroborate his testimony and his affidavit that he has made against the Vice President,” he said.
“This is because Madriaga’s affidavit is cited in portions of the impeachment under complaints number three and number four,” he added.
Adiong also noted that the seriousness of the claims raised by Madriaga could explain reports that individuals have allegedly tried to approach him.
“Well it only speaks how serious the allegation of Madriaga. Kung tama naman kung ano ‘yung sinasabi niya ngayon, halimbawa na mayroong lumalapit sa kanya, it only proves to say that those who are actually approaching him are fearful of what may happen or what the possible exposure is, what the information that may be revealed once Madriaga testifies in the committee,” he said.
At the same time, Adiong emphasized that the vice president retains full access to legal remedies as she prepares her defense.
“Well all legal remedies are available naman to her. So I myself would expect that she would definitely do anything at her disposal, all the possible legal remedies in order also to come up with her defense,” he said.
The House Committee on Justice has begun proceedings on the impeachment complaints against Duterte after ruling that two of the filings were sufficient in form and substance, allowing the panel to move forward with the next stages of the constitutional process.
