Duterte, Teves counsels dismiss alleged threat of bagman

MANILA, Philippines —The counsels for both Vice President Sara Duterte and former representative Arnolfo Teves dismissed the claim of alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga that Teves wanted him dead inside prison, calling it "comical" and a "poppycock" During the impeachment hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Jose Manuel Diokno raised a motion to put Madriaga under protective custody of the House as he was "being dragged to a cell that was built by Teves." In a statement, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., the counsel of Duterte to the perjury case she filed against Madriaga, said that his counsel, Raymund Palad, previously claimed that Madriaga was visited by the Vice President to persuade him not to testify. "That story was quickly debunked by [Interior] Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who confirmed that VP Sara visited Teves, not Madriaga. Since his lie was exposed, Madriaga has conveniently shifted his narrative to insinuate that VP Sara, through Teves, is behind the alleged threat to his life," Panelo said. He stressed that this falsehood was entirely "on brand" for someone who has lied through his teeth about his supposed association with the vice president and his own background. "The House Justice Committee’s blind acceptance of this ridiculous and unsubstantiated narrative from a “polluted source” only confirms the Committee’s willingness to entertain fabrications in pursuit of a politically motivated agenda," Panelo added . In a separate statement, Teves's counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, said that it was already expected coming from Diokno. "I suggest he stick to what he does best: represent non-clients in non-cases using non sequitur. Because all he spews out is nonsense," Topacio added.

Go to News Site