MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s camp on Friday denied any involvement in alleged death threats against detained witness Ramil Madriaga, even as concerns mounted over his safety inside a jail facility following a reported confrontation with another detainee.
Atty. Paolo Panelo, legal counsel of the Vice President, said Duterte-Carpio had nothing to do with any alleged intimidation against Madriaga, who earlier executed an affidavit claiming he distributed funds allegedly linked to the Vice President’s confidential funds.
“VP Sara has nothing to do with any death threats to Madriaga, and we join any calls to provide him with additional protection,” Panelo said on Friday.
Panelo stressed that Duterte-Carpio’s camp actually wants Madriaga to remain safe, saying he is the only person who could supposedly confirm that his testimony against the Vice President was fabricated and reveal those who may have influenced him.
“We want him alive and in the pink of health because he’s the only one who can admit that he made up his testimony against the Vice President, and identify his handlers,” Panelo said.
He also challenged Madriaga to stand by his claims and provide more specific details about the accusations, which the Vice President’s camp described as vague and fabricated.
“If he stands firm on his testimony, we want him to come forward and add details to his overly general and obviously fabricated accusations, so we can shatter his testimony even more,” Panelo said.
The statement came after Madriaga’s lawyer, Atty. Raymond Palad, disclosed that his client was recently confronted by another detainee inside the jail facility where he is being held.
Palad said the incident occurred on March 3 at the second floor of Annex 2 in the Delta area of the facility. Madriaga was reportedly walking along a corridor when a newly admitted detainee described as a “large man” suddenly blocked his path.
Madriaga allegedly shouted for guards and prepared to defend himself before the other detainee ran back to his cell. Jail authorities later conducted an internal investigation and reportedly transferred the group of newly admitted detainees from the area.
Palad further claimed that Madriaga had earlier received warnings from fellow detainees and some jail personnel that a bounty ranging from P500,000 to P5 million may have been placed on his life.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), however, downplayed the March 3 encounter, describing it as a minor misunderstanding and saying there was no violence or direct threat involved./PN
