Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, key member of the House Committee on Justice, on Saturday said the affidavit of Ramil Madriaga, claiming to be a former military agent and alleged bagman of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, is the “new evidence” in the fresh impeachment proceeding against her.
Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts, made this statement during the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, in which he also assured the public that the panel would be fair in handling the four impeachment complaints against Duterte.
“Basically, ‘yung major grounds ay magpapatuloy po sa kasalukuyang impeachment proceedings. Kasama po diyan ‘yung betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption,” Ridon told the forum.
Also to be covered in the committee deliberations are the Vice President’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, her famous videotaped death threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, and her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), said Ridon.
“Kasama din po ‘yung affidavit ni Ramil Madriaga, na nagpapakilala bilang bagman ni VP Sara Duterte. So we will look at all these allegations, particularly the allegations of Ramil Madriaga with a very critical eye. Kasi very important po na ma-vet thoroughly lahat po ng babanggitin niya, lahat ng nakasaad sa kanyang affidavit,” Ridon said.
“So if the question is what is new in this impeachment proceeding, it would be the Madriaga affidavit,” he stressed.
In his affidavit, Madriaga has alleged that funding for VP Duterte’s national election campaign came from drug lords and illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Ridon said the House is committed to observing fairness and transparency in processing the impeachment complaints against the Vice President.
“Ang commitment po ng committee on justice at ipapatupad po ‘yung mga relevant rules sa impeachment na ipinatupad po natin in previous impeachment proceedings katulad ng impeachment proceeding ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” he said.
"At commitment din po ng komite na magiging fair ‘yung pong pagpapatupad ng amin pong mandate sa bagay po na ito,” he said.
He called on the public to monitor the House impeachment proceedings beginning on Monday.
“Inaanyayahan po natin ang ating mga kababayan na tunghayan ‘yung pong determination in sufficiency in form and substance proceedings ng house committee on justice na magsisimula na po sa 2 March, ngayong Lunes, 10 ng umaga,” Ridon said.