Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer Paolo Panelo described self-confessed Duterte aide Ramil Madriaga as a “Trojan horse” and even a potential “star witness” for the vice president, saying his testimony could backfire against the impeachment proponents.

Speaking ahead of the April 14 House impeachment hearing, Panelo said the Duterte camp is confident Madriaga’s testimony will collapse under scrutiny.

“In fact, the analogy that I like to use is, he’s like a Trojan horse entering the city of Troy… if they want to bring the Trojan horse… we won’t stand in their way,” Panelo said.