MANILA — The legal counsel of Vice President Sara Duterte criticized impeachment resource person Ramil Madriaga, describing his claims as weak and unverifiable following his appearance before the House Committee on Justice.

In an official statement, lawyer Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr. said their earlier assessment that Madriaga would be the “weakest link” in the case had been confirmed.

“Our assessment that Ramil Madriaga would be the weakest link in the impeachment case was fully vindicated today. As expected, Madriaga failed to address — because he could not address — the clear and definitive evidence presented by the Vice President in the perjury complaint that proves he is a fraud,” Panelo said.

He added that Madriaga presented matters that were “irrelevant and immaterial,” including issues that had already been addressed in the Vice President’s perjury complaint.

“Further, he only presented evidence on irrelevant and immaterial matters, including those already debunked in the perjury complaint; with his core allegations of cash deliveries and instructions through phone calls on prepaid phones conveniently and fatally unverifiable,” he said.

Panelo also questioned the credibility of Madriaga’s claims, particularly allegations involving sensitive matters.

“Far from strengthening the case, the Supplemental Affidavit only heightens the unbelievable and illogical nature of his claims, foremost of which is why former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte would entrust sensitive security and intelligence matters to someone outside the military-police chain of command, and the reported leader of the ‘Madriaga Kidnapping for Ransom Group,’ dubbed by the PNP as ‘one of the most dangerous criminal syndicates in recent history,’” he said.

The lawyer said they remain prepared to challenge the allegations.

“Majority of the Filipino people will see through the lies and the performance, but we relish the opportunity to dismantle his claims once again,” Panelo added.

Madriaga earlier appeared before the House Committee on Justice and submitted a supplemental affidavit as part of impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.