VP Sara Duterte on Alleged Teves Visit: “I Neither Confirm Nor Deny”

Vice President Sara Duterte addressed questions surrounding an alleged visit to detained former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., saying she would neither confirm nor deny the matter.

Speaking to reporters, Duterte reiterated that she does not know Ramil Madriga, the individual linking her to various allegations, and stressed that claims being circulated remain unsupported by evidence. “Kung gusto nilang magsabi, magsabi sila. Basta ang masasabi ko, hindi ko kilala si Ramil Madriga,” she said.

The Vice President’s remarks come amid heightened public scrutiny following statements from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which earlier clarified that a jail visit in Camp Bagong Diwa was for Arnolfo Teves Jr., not Madriga.

Duterte maintained that she will not be drawn into speculation or rumor, emphasizing that allegations must be supported by proof, not repetition. She also noted that individuals making claims appear to be acting under pressure, describing the accusations as part of a pattern of noise amplified without substantiation.

Legal observers note that refusing to confirm or deny does not equate to admission or concealment, but can be a deliberate stance to avoid fueling conjecture—particularly when facts have already been clarified by official agencies.

🦅 Agila note:
Silence is not evasion when facts are already on record. Sometimes restraint is the clearest answer.

Bible Verse:
“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” — Proverbs 10:19