Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Ramil Madriaga arrives at the House of Representatives and is sworn in before the House Committee on Justice on April 14, 2026, as he testifies during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17871301416051787130138776.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Ramil Madriaga arrives at the House of Representatives and is sworn in before the House Committee on Justice on April 14, 2026, as he testifies during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/>Ramil Madriaga arrives at the House of Representatives and is sworn in before the House Committee on Justice on April 14, 2026, as he testifies during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA — The House prosecution may drop Ramil Madriaga as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial if other witnesses will be able to cover what he will testify on, according to Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro.Madriaga, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/15/who-is-ramil-madriaga-1437">who claims to have been Duterte’s bagman</a>, is listed as a witness on the impeachment article accusing Duterte of misusing confidential funds.&quot;Ang intensyon ng prosecution ay mapabilis ang trial kung kaya iniiwasan na mag-prisinta ng witnesses na kalabisan, paulit-ulit at hindi na kailangan,” lead prosecutor Luistro said.(The intention of the prosecution is a speedy trial so we avoid presenting witnesses who are will give similar testimony or are superfluous.) Bicol Saro Party-List Rep. Terry Ridon, a House prosecutor, said former Office of Vice President Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta’s testimony is “sufficient” to show supposed betrayal of public trust over alleged confidential fund misuse.Acosta told the Senate impeachment court this week that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/wrap-confidential-funds-released-to-ovp-security-chief-as-duterte-ordered-acosta-2027">Duterte had ordered her to release P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica</a> of the vice president&#x27;s security detail.The prosecution argues Lachica, an Army officer, is not among the authorized personnel to receive the money but Acosta testified that he implemented the OVP&#x27;s confidential activities.   <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/when-is-a-witness-hostile-and-what-happens-when-they-are-1308">When is a witness &#x27;hostile&#x27; and what happens when they are? </a></div>“Pagdedesiyunan nalang ng prosekusyon kung kailangan pang isalang ang ibang mga testigo sa susunod na mga araw,” Ridon said.(The prosecution will decide in coming days whether to present other witnesses.)Atty. Lorna Kapunan, counsel for the prosecution, said the court could take judicial notice of transcripts of House proceedings on confidential funds.also sees the possibility of dropping some witnesses from their list, following Acosta’s testimony and after the Impeachment Court took judicial notice of relevant House proceedings.“Maraming admissions doon. So ‘yung mga gusto naming witnesses d’yan hindi na kailangan,&quot; she said.(There were many admissions made there. So we might not need to present the witnesses we want to.)She said the prosecution is weighing whether to call other witnesses, particularly potentially hostile ones, because “there may be a concern about their credibility.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/-dapat-mabilis-ang-proseso-vp-sara-hopes-for-speedy-impeachment-trial-1357">‘Dapat mabilis ang proseso’: Sara Duterte hopes for speedy impeachment trial</a></div><div> </div><div>SCHEDULE</div>Members of the prosecution team meanwhile said they back the proposal to move the start of the impeachment proceedings to 3 p.m. from the current 10 a.m. They are also amenable to holding four trial days a week.The option has been floated because of suspensions in the trial due to inclement weather.Kapunan said having a continuous trial with both parties examining witnesses on the same day is ideal. “Ang mahirap, ‘pag pinuputol ang testimony… lalo na ang isang hostile witness, pwedeng i-coach,&quot; she said.(The problem with testimony being suspended, especially when it is by a hostile witness is they might be coached.)She said is not attributing any bad faith or malice, only saying what the ideal trial setup would be.She said that could be done by starting trial days at 3 p.m. with no set time for it to end.

The House prosecution may drop Ramil Madriaga as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial if other witnesses will be able to cover what he will testify on, according to Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro.

The House prosecution may drop Ramil Madriaga as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial if other witnesses will be able to cover what he will testify on, according to Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro.

Prosecution weighs presenting alleged bagman Madriaga as impeachment trial witness

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Prosecution weighs presenting alleged bagman Madriaga as impeachment trial witness

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 19, 2026 05:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Ramil Madriaga

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

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