Atty. Paolo Panelo, legal counsel to Vice President Sara Duterte, said their camp has evidence that Ramil Madriaga—who claims to be an aide and bagman of the Vice President—allegedly contacted Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco, her former Department of Education (DepEd) security officer, in an attempt to persuade him to switch sides.
In an interview on DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan, Panelo said that Madriaga allegedly contacted Nolasco, urging him to “turn” and cooperate. Panelo stated that their camp has obtained text messages purportedly sent to Nolasco, which they claim show Madriaga encouraging him to shift his testimony against VP Sara. According to Panelo, the message allegedly suggested that Nolasco should claim that confidential funds were handed over to him, with assurances that the sender would take responsibility and potentially become a state witness to secure release from detention. “Hindi lang haka-haka ang mayroon kami, mayroon kaming pruweba meron siyang text message ni Lieutenant Col. Nolasco na DepEd security officer dati ni VP Sara na ang sinasabi sa text messages Lt. Col. Nolasco, ‘Bumaliktad ka na, sabihin mo na lang na sa akin mo binigay yung confidential funds at ako na lang ang magpapaliwanag kung saan ko binigay. Huwag kang mag-alala sa akin makakalaya ako kasi magiging state witness ako,’” Panelo said, adding that the matter is included in a perjury complaint and that records have been submitted to the House Committee on Justice. He further alleged that the supposed communication indicates a motive to fabricate claims against Duterte. “So iyon po ang nagkukumpirma na kung ano ang motibo nito at again just to reiterate nasa perjury complaint ‘yan. Mayroon pong record ang House Justice committee,” he said. Panelo also criticized the proceedings at the House committee, accusing some members of ignoring what he described as relevant facts. “Nakita niyo na kung gaano ka-moro-moro ang ginagawa nila diyan. Nagbubulag-bulagan sila doon sa katotohanan diyan sa House Justice Committee,” Panelo said. “’Yung mga nagpapanggap diyan sa Kongreso na walang motibo, itong si Ramil Madriaga para gumawa ng kwento laban kay VP Sara ay nagbubulag-bulagan po yang mga yan,” he added. When asked whether Nolasco identified who may have influenced Madriaga to testify against the Vice President, Panelo said there was no direct statement but referenced another alleged message. He claimed it mentioned that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos was “very angry” at Duterte, though supposedly not showing it publicly. Panelo said the message was dated December 2025. “Hindi, pero mukhang kaalyado ni Pangulong Marcos kasi sabi po sa isang text message parang sa bandang dulo ang sabi po doon ay ‘galit na galit daw si PBBM kay VP Sara hindi lang daw pinapahalata’ ‘yun ang exact words,” he said. The lawyer also expressed expectations that upcoming hearings in the House would again attempt to discredit the Vice President. However, he asserted that such efforts would not succeed, emphasizing that the public would be able to discern the situation. Madriaga testified in connection with the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
