HOUSE Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Sunday urged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to personally attend the April 14 impeachment hearing, stressing that the proper venue to address allegations and challenge witness Ramil L. Madriaga is the House Committee on Justice, not media briefings.
Speaking to reporters, Ridon downplayed remarks from Atty. Salvador Panelo, who earlier described witness Ramil L. Madriaga as the supposed “weakest link” and suggested his testimony could unravel under questioning.
“Well una po sa lahat, sino ba si Atty. Panelo dito sa impeachment proceedings. Si Atty. Panelo ay abogado lang po ng Vice President sa kanyang perjury case 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,” Ridon said.
Ridon emphasized that if the Vice President’s camp believes Madriaga’s testimony is weak, the remedy is not a press conference but direct participation in the proceedings.
“Kung sinasabi ho nila na weakest link ho si Mr. Madriaga, ang remedyo rito hindi po ‘yung press con kundi ‘yung April hearings,” Ridon said.
He added that public statements ahead of the hearing could be an attempt to shape perception.
“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,” Ridon said.
For Ridon, the more decisive step is for Duterte to face the panel and present her defense.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Ridon said.
He noted that the hearing would allow Duterte to directly question the credibility of Madriaga.
“Ibig sabihin ho kung totoo ba o hindi po ito, puwede niyang gawin ito sa April 14 para wasakin po yung kredibilidad ni Ginoong Madriaga,” he said.
Ridon also rejected claims that the House Committee on Justice is biased against the Vice President.
“Alam po ninyo ‘yung House Justice Committee ay magpapatupad po ng kanya pong mandato dito po sa impeachment… Kasi ‘yan ang itinatadhana ng ating Konstitusyon, ating rules at lahat ng umiiral na jurisprudence,” he said.
“Kaya nga ang panawagan natin doon, magpakita na lang ang ating pangalawang pangulo, doon niya ilatag ang kanyang depensa laban kay Mr. Madriaga at hindi sa isang press conference ng kanyang abogado,” he said.
On criticisms that Madriaga’s affidavit lacks detail, Ridon said no one is barred from clarifying or supplementing testimony.
“Wala hong pumipigil sa kahit sino… na magdadagdag mga detalye para magbigay ng aktual na katotohanan sa mga paratang,” he said.
At the same time, Ridon pointed to possible legal implications should Duterte appear before the panel.
“In the moment na magpakita ang pangalawang pangulo doon, ang kanyang kaso sa Korte Suprema I think will be mooted entirely,” he said, noting that her appearance could be seen as recognition of the committee’s jurisdiction.
“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,” Ridon explained.
Ridon closed with a renewed call for the Vice President to take part in the proceedings, stressing that the impeachment hearings remain open and are the proper forum for her defense.
“Bukas po ang House impeachment hearing sa atin pong Vice President… meron po siyang karapatan na maglahad ng kanyang ebidensya sa araw po na iyon at sa mga susunod na pagdinig,” Ridon added.
