Public interest lawyer Jesus Falcis suggested that Vice President Sara Duterte and her allies are trying to block evidence from surfacing in the impeachment proceedings, particularly the testimony of Ramil Madriaga.
“Mapa House o mapa Senado, ayaw talaga nilang lumabas ang ebidensya. Lalong lalo na si Ramil Madriaga,” Falcis wrote in a Facebook post.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon described the Supreme Court petition filed by pro-VP Sara lawyers as “Kabado Malala,” while political analyst Ronald Llamas reacted bluntly on social media: “Duwag!”
Madriaga has been summoned to testify before the House Justice Committee on April 14, based on his sworn statement submitted to the Ombudsman regarding what he knows about VP Sara.
The petition before the Supreme Court seeks a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the impeachment case.
Lawyer Torreon, who previously represented the Duterte camp in high court petitions, said they filed as taxpayers, not as part of Sara’s legal team.
“The Constitution grants the House the sole power to initiate impeachment, but that power is not absolute,” the petition stated, arguing that due process and legal thresholds must be respected.
VP Sara had earlier asked the Supreme Court to stop an impeachment case last year, claiming she was denied due process, a plea the Court granted.
This year, the House Justice Committee allowed her to respond to the complaints, but she continues to refuse to recognize the proceedings. # (RRN)
