AKBAYAN Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno on Sunday said the testimony of Ramil Madriaga, identified in the impeachment complaints as a supposed former “bagman” of Vice President Sara Duterte, will be crucial in determining whether the case will be elevated to the Senate.
“Lumalabas na si Madriaga ang isa sa pinakamahalagang testigo,” Diokno, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said
during dzBB’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso interview with Isa Avendaño-Umali and Nimfa Ravelo.
Madriaga, who executed an affidavit and was cited by complainants as having personal knowledge of alleged transactions involving the vice president, is currently detained at a jail facility in Taguig City on kidnapping charges and is expected to testify before the committee on April 14.
In his affidavit, Madriaga was presented as having knowledge of the alleged misuse of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when Duterte was its secretary—issues cited as grounds in the impeachment complaints.
Diokno said the justice panel must hear directly from Madriaga to verify his sworn statements.
“Kailangan naming makita at marinig mismo sa bibig niya kung ano ang alam niya tungkol sa nakalagay sa kanyang salaysay,” he said.
According to Diokno, Madriaga’s testimony could either strengthen the complaints or lead to their dismissal.
“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,” Diokno said.
Diokno clarified that Madriaga is not the committee’s witness but was identified by the complainants.
“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.
Lawmakers will weigh his testimony against the allegations and the vice president’s response.
“Malalaman natin at maku-compare ang mga alegasyon at ang kanyang sasabihin pagharap niya,” Diokno said.
The panel remains at the preliminary stage, determining probable cause before deciding whether to elevate the case to the Senate for trial.
