The Makabayan bloc on Tuesday underscored the gravity of the supplemental affidavit submitted by Ramil Madriaga to the House Committee on Justice, describing it as “unusually detailed” and “deeply damning,” with implications that reach the highest levels of government.
“We take note of Ramil Madriaga’s supplemental affidavit and related testimony submitted to the House Committee on Justice. The account is unusually detailed and, by its nature, contains multiple leads that are verifiable through documents, transaction trails, custody and delivery points, identities of intermediaries, and corroborating records that the Committee can compel and examine,” the bloc said in a statement.
The progressive lawmakers stressed that the allegations “are not merely political noise” but instead “sweeping and deeply damning not only for Vice President Sara Duterte, but also for former President Rodrigo Duterte and other high officials dragged into the narrative, including former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, among others.”
They warned that if even a portion of the claims is substantiated, “the implications are grave for the integrity of public institutions and the use of state power and public funds.”
“Mabigat at masinsin ang salaysay, at masusuri sa dokumento at rekord kung totoo ang bawat detalyeng inilahad. Nakapaloob sa mga alegasyon ang mga pangalan, lugar, galaw ng pondo, at mga posibleng paper trail na puwedeng beripikahin.”
The group argued that the impeachment proceedings are the proper venue to confront witnesses, produce records, and test contradictions under oath.
“Evading the hearings through legal maneuvers while simultaneously attacking witnesses only strengthens public suspicion and undermines any claim of transparency,” they said.
“Pinakamainam na humarap mismo ang Bise Presidente sa pagdinig ng Komite sa Hustisya at sagutin ang mga alegasyon. Dapat manaig ang pananagutan, hindi ang pag-iwas,” the bloc added.
They urged Vice President Duterte to personally attend the hearings.
“The Vice President should attend the Justice Committee hearing herself, answer the allegations directly, and submit to the same process that ordinary citizens face when serious accusations are raised. Accountability cannot be selective, and due process is not served by refusing to show up while attempting to stop the proceedings from moving forward to the presentation and examination of evidence.”
Finally, the bloc called on the Committee to secure documentary submissions, summon relevant resource persons, and ensure witness protection. “The public deserves clarity, not theatrics, and the truth must be established through an open, rules-based process,” they said. # ( ZIA LUNA)
