Sara Duterte appoints Paolo Panelo Jr. as spokesperson

Vice President Sara Duterte has appointed lawyer Paolo Panelo Jr. as her new spokesperson, filling a vacancy that has existed since November 2024. Panelo Jr., the son of former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, previously served as counsel for Duterte in a perjury case against Ramil Madriaga.

The appointment comes amid significant legal challenges for the Vice President, including an ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate and a grave threats case related to remarks made about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Following the appointment, Panelo Jr. criticized the Office of the City Prosecutor in Taguig for dismissing Duterte’s perjury complaint against Madriaga due to “insufficiency of evidence.” Panelo characterized the dismissal as a “political decision,” suggesting that the Department of Justice, led by Secretary Fredderick Vida, is protecting Madriaga to avoid confirming that testimony used in Duterte’s impeachment proceedings was perjured.