By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The legal battle over Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds intensified as her camp claimed it has an “unlimited” arsenal of evidence and witnesses to discredit former aide Ramil Madriaga.
Duterte’s lawyer Paolo Panelo said the defense had filed a second perjury complaint against Madriaga before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office, describing him as a “desperate witness.”
Panelo said the latest complaint, filed Monday over Madriaga’s supplemental affidavit, runs to about 750 pages. The first complaint, filed in March, exceeded 300 pages and, together with the second case, includes 12 sworn testimonies. More witnesses, certifications and records are being gathered, he said.
“We have unlimited artillery of defense because we know he is lying,” Panelo said.
Madriaga, one of more than 30 potential witnesses for the House prosecution, has accused Duterte of ordering the distribution of P125 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President in 2022.
The prosecution, however, accused the Duterte camp of using public statements and other issues to divert attention from damaging testimony at the Senate impeachment trial.
Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said the latest perjury complaint was part of a recurring pattern.
“Every time tempers flare at the impeachment trial, he holds a press conference apparently to confuse the public,” Kapunan said.
Meanwhile, the trial is already running two to three days behind schedule, according to impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol.
The court had allotted 31 days for the prosecution’s presentation on the first impeachment article involving the confidential funds, but the last two witnesses consumed five hearing days while three sessions were suspended because of heavy rains.
The court may add hearing days, including Friday sessions, to recover lost time.
ia/xf
