Lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., legal counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte, has dismissed as “comical” the latest allegation made by Ramil Madriaga claiming that former Congressman Arnie Teves wants him dead.
In an official statement released on March 27, Panelo said Madriaga’s accusation lacks credibility and follows a pattern of inconsistent claims.
He recalled that Madriaga, through a legal counsel, had earlier alleged that Duterte personally visited him in jail to dissuade him from testifying an assertion that was later contradicted by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
Remulla clarified that the vice president’s visit was made to Teves, not Madriaga.
Following the debunking of his earlier claim, Panelo said Madriaga has now shifted his narrative, suggesting that Duterte, through Teves, is behind an alleged threat to his life.
“This obvious falsehood is entirely on brand for someone who has lied through his teeth,” Panelo said.
He questioned Madriaga’s credibility regarding both his alleged ties to the vice president and his personal background.
Panelo also criticized the House Justice Committee for allegedly giving weight to Madriaga’s claims, describing the witness as a “polluted source.”
He argued that the committee’s acceptance of what he called an unsubstantiated narrative indicates a willingness to entertain fabricated allegations in pursuit of political motives.
The statement comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving a perjury complaint filed against Madriaga.
