HOUSE Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chair Joel Chua of Manila on Monday challenged Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to personally attend the impeachment hearing and confront her alleged bagman, witness Ramil L. Madriaga, following claims by her legal supporters that he is the “weakest link.”
Chua said the allegation against Madriaga should be tested in the proper forum—the House proceedings—rather than in media briefings or through petitions seeking to halt the process.
“Kung sinasabi nilang sinungaling at ‘weakest link’ si Madriaga, mas lalo nilang dapat harapin ang pagdinig para mapatunayan iyon. Hindi po puwedeng sa labas lang magsalita, pero sa loob ng proseso ay umiiwas,” Chua, a lawyer and member of the House Committee on Justice, said in a statement.
Chua was responding to remarks made by former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo who described Madriaga as unreliable.
He countered that such claims only strengthen the case for Duterte’s appearance at the hearing.
“If Atty. Panelo believes Mr. Madriaga is the ‘weakest link,’ then all the more reason for Vice President Sara Duterte to attend the hearing and test that claim under oath. Hindi po sa press briefing dinadaan ang credibility, tama na ang puro propaganda—sa ebidensya at sa proseso po natin daanin iyan,” Chua said.
He stressed that impeachment proceedings are governed by constitutional rules and due process, where both sides are provided the opportunity to present evidence and challenge witnesses.
“The proper venue to challenge any witness—including Mr. Madriaga—is the House hearing. Hindi po sapat ang sabihing ‘mahina ang witness’ kung hindi naman hinaharap at sinusubok sa tamang forum. Due process works both ways—may pagkakataon si VP Sara na dumepensa sa committee,” Chua added.
Chua also pointed out what he described as a contradiction in the Vice President’s camp—questioning a witness’s credibility while simultaneously seeking relief from the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the proceedings.
“Magkaiba po ang sinasabi at ginagawa. On one hand, sinasabing ‘mahina ang witness.’ On the other hand, humihingi ng TRO at hindi naman humaharap sa pagdinig kung saan puwedeng patunayan iyon. Kung talagang mahina ang ebidensya, bakit hindi harapin?” Chua said.
Chua reiterated that the impeachment process is evidence-based and anchored on the Constitution, Supreme Court rulings, and House rules, adding that allegations against any witness must be tested within that framework.
“The impeachment proceedings are evidence-based and governed by rules. Allegations about a witness’s credibility must be tested within that framework. Any attempt to avoid the hearing while attacking a witness outside of it raises serious questions about the consistency of that position,” he said.
On Sunday, House Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Sunday urged Duterte to personally attend the April 14 impeachment hearing, stressing that the proper venue to address allegations and challenge Madriaga is the House Committee on Justice, not media briefings.
Speaking to reporters, Ridon downplayed remarks from 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.
