By Zaldy De Layola
MANILA – Presiding Judge Alma Crispina Collado-Lacorte of the Regional Trial Court Branch 21 in Manila has granted the request of the House Committee on Justice to allow detainee Ramil Madriaga to attend the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte on April 14.
“Acting on the letter dated March 31, 2026 by Hon. Atty. Gerville ‘Jinky’ Bitrics’ R. Luistro, Chairperson, Committee on Justice, and Hon. Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III, Speaker of the House of Representatives, requesting the Court to allow PDL (person deprived of liberty) Ramil Lagonoy (sic) Madriaga to appear before the Committee on Justice… the same is GRANTED,” the court order dated April 7 read.
“Accordingly, accused Ramil Madriaga y Lagonoy is hereby allowed to appear before the Committee on Justice located at the 2nd Floor of the People Center, House of Representatives, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City on April 14, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with proper jail escorts,” it stated.
Madriaga, identified in House proceedings as a key witness, is facing charges for kidnapping pending before the same court.
The House panel formally sought the court’s permission to secure Madriaga’s attendance as it resumes hearings on the determination of probable cause in the impeachment complaints against Duterte.
“The House Committee on Justice will resume its hearing for the determination of probable cause on the above-captioned impeachment proceeding on April 14, 2026, with Ramil Lagonoy Madriaga being one of the key personalities to be invited as resource person or witness,” the panel said in its March 31 letter.
The request was issued by authority of committee on justice chairperson Luistro and signed by Dy, with House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil attesting.
The panel noted that the request forms part of its ongoing proceedings to assess the verified impeachment complaints against the Vice President. (PNA)
