Politics · Philippines Bureau
Duterte legal team readies defense against ex-aide's fund allegations
Vice President Sara Duterte's lawyers say they have extensive evidence to counter claims by former aide Ramil Madriaga regarding misuse of confidential funds. Prosecutors in the impeachment trial have accused the Duterte camp of attempting to divert public attention from damaging testimony.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Paolo Panelo, a legal representative for Vice President Sara Duterte, declared on Tuesday that her defense team possesses an "unlimited arsenal" of evidence and witnesses to rebut allegations made by former aide Ramil Madriaga concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds under her office.
The assertion comes as the impeachment trial of the Vice President continues in the House of Representatives. Madriaga, who previously served as an executive assistant in her office when she was mayor of Davao City, has testified to allegedly irregular expenditures from discretionary funds.
Meanwhile, prosecutors conducting the impeachment case have raised concerns that the Duterte legal team is employing diversionary tactics. The prosecution contends that whenever testimony threatens to expose damaging evidence, the defense shifts focus to attack the credibility of witnesses rather than addressing substantive allegations directly.
The competing narratives underline the contentious nature of the impeachment proceedings, with both sides preparing for prolonged legal battles over the interpretation of financial records and the credibility of witnesses involved in the case. The trial is expected to continue with additional testimony and evidence presentations in the coming weeks.