Vice President's Legal Team Denounces Former Aide's Claims as 'Pure Fiction' Amid Impeachment Proceedings
The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte issued a forceful rejection on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, dismissing allegations made by former aide Ramil Madriaga as "delusional" and lacking any credible evidence. This strong denial comes as tensions escalate alongside ongoing impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives, where lawmakers are examining whether there is sufficient cause to advance complaints to a full Senate trial.
Legal Counsel Dismisses Handwritten Letter as Fabrication
In a statement released ahead of Madriaga's scheduled appearance before the House Committee on Justice, Duterte's legal counsel, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., categorically refuted the assertions made by Madriaga, who claimed to be her former aide and "bagman." Panelo characterized Madriaga's handwritten letter dated April 11 as containing "pure fiction," specifically addressing claims about a supposed term-sharing agreement, a planned ouster, and even assassination plots targeting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
"His allegations of a secret term-sharing agreement, planned ouster, and assassination plots against PBBM are pure fiction, and not even remotely believable," Panelo stated emphatically. "If the need arises, we will be happy to refute each delusional claim point by point with evidence — something that has eluded all his allegations, past and present."
Credibility Questions Raised About Whistleblower
Panelo further argued that calling Madriaga to testify before lawmakers would only expose his "lack of credibility," suggesting the whistleblower has already undermined his own accusations even before appearing under oath before the House Committee on Justice. "I have repeatedly said that making Madriaga testify would just reveal his lack of credibility and expose his lies. He has now succeeded in doing exactly that even before uttering a single word under oath in the House Justice Committee," Panelo added, questioning the validity of the testimony before it even began.
Impeachment Complaints and Duterte's Response
The panel has previously declared two impeachment complaints against Duterte as sufficient in form, substance, and grounds. These complaints, the third and fourth filed against Duterte by civil society groups, clergy, and lawyers, accuse her of:
- Betrayal of public trust
- Culpable violations of the Constitution
- Misuse of public funds
The allegations specifically involve irregularities concerning confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education during her tenure as department secretary. Additionally, the complaints cite threats Duterte allegedly made against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte has refused to attend the House Committee on Justice's hearing, defending her absence as both legally permissible and a stand against what she described as politically driven proceedings. She has criticized the panel's "mini-trial" as conducting a "fishing expedition" against her.
Committee Chair Defends Impeachment Process
During the resumption of impeachment hearings, House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro addressed Duterte's criticisms of the proceedings. "Let me stress this process is not about personalities, it is about accountability, responsibility," Luistro stated. "Ito ay paninindigan para sa katotohanan. Impeachment is the people's constitutional mechanism to hold public officials accountable. Tandan natin, ito ay pagtukoy lamang kung may probable cause o wala at bahagi ng prosesong ito ang pagdinig natin ngayon, isang pagkakataon upang linawin ang mahahalagang issue sa kasong ito."
Luistro further clarified the committee's role, adding: "Hindi ito paghuhusga. Gusto lang nating maliwanagan. Gusto lang natin matiyak kung dapat bang umusad ang proseso. Our duty is not to pass final judgment but to clarify and in the process to seek the truth."
Legal Challenges and Ongoing Developments
Currently, four petitions are pending before the Supreme Court seeking to halt the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Duterte. These legal challenges add another layer of complexity to the already contentious political situation, as both sides prepare for what could be protracted legal and political battles in the coming weeks and months.
The unfolding drama represents a significant test for the country's political institutions, with the Vice President facing multiple impeachment complaints while her legal team mounts an aggressive defense against what they characterize as baseless allegations from questionable sources.
