Ramil Madriaga, identifying himself as a former “bagman” of Vice President Sara Duterte, claimed in an affidavit read on Tuesday that he was instructed to communicate with her primarily through phone calls and to minimize text messaging.

The statement surfaced during the second hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

In his affidavit, Ramil Madriaga alleged that the instruction was given after he was introduced to Duterte by former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2018, ahead of local elections in Davao City, where she sought reelection as mayor.

According to the document, the meeting took place at the elder Duterte’s residence in Bangkal, Davao City, where he allegedly told Madriaga to assist his daughter.

“Since then, I have frequently met and discussed with Sara regarding various matters. However, she gave me strict instructions that all conversations should be done, as much as possible, by call, and minimize text messages,” Madriaga said in his affidavit, which was presented before the panel.

The affidavit was among the pieces of evidence cited during the ongoing proceedings, seeking to determine whether there is probable cause to proceed with impeachment against the vice president.