Sara Duterte rejects Gracioso money delivery claims

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte rejected Tuesday dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.’s allegation that he delivered billions of pesos worth of cash to her.

“Mariin kong tinatanggi ang mga pahayag ni Rodulfo Mondigo Gracioso Jr. sa kaniyang sinumpaang salaysay at mga panayam sa media na iniuugnay ako sa mga pangyayaring hindi ko ginawa, hindi ko nalalaman, o hindi ko personal na naranasan,” Duterte said in a press conference.

Duterte said following a review of old photos, she said she believed Gracioso could have been one of the personnel hired by former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s wife to keep an eye on him.

But Duterte asserted that Gracioso could have never directly approached her due to the strict security protocols implemented by the Presidential Security Group for her family since the start of her father’s presidency in 2016.

“Hindi kailanman nangyari na ako ay sinundo ni Gracioso sa isang private hangar sa Pasay, sumakay sa isang Ford…na van at inihatid sa Diamond Hotel,” she said.

The Vice President also denied receiving money, chocolates, or expensive bags. She clarified that Jefry Tupas was not her trustee or personal aide, but served as her city information officer.

Duterte also presented photographs showing that she was in Davao and other parts of Mindanao from Holy Week until almost the end of April, contrary to Gracioso’s claim that she was then in Marinduque to endorse Velasco.

Duterte added that Gracioso could not have visited their residence in Davao, saying he did not know details about or even the appearance of her house.

She likened Gracioso to Ramil Madriaga, who had linked her to alleged illegal campaign funding and cash deliveries.

“Ang Gracioso affidavit ay tulad ng Madriaga affidavit na naglalagay ng akusasyon, ngunit hindi naglalagay ng detalye na puwedeng i-verify of i-confirm,” the Vice President said.

She called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file charges against Gracioso, who she accused of lying.

“Ang gusto ko ngayon, bago ko ilabas yung conflict of interest ni Matibag, gusto ko makita kung totoo ba talaga siyang professional siya na NBI director na kasuhan niya si Gracioso. Hindi man sa buong affidavit ni Gracioso, kundi sa parte kung saan nagsinungaling si Gracioso laban sa akin,” she said.

Duterte was also asked about her photo with Gracioso. She said the photo was taken at a campaign rally in Samar, where many supporters also took photos with her.

She then shared what she said she had learned from the incident.

“Araw-araw sa buhay ninyo, mag-selfie kayo sa landmark kung nasaan kayo, para pagdating ng 10 years, 15 years from now, mayroon kayong Gracioso… akala niya siya lang yung tao doon,” she said.

Duterte also said money could have motivated Gracioso’s accusations, citing an alleged disagreement between him and his former boss, Velasco.

“Ito yung motibo, klaro naman sa mga pahayag ni Lord at ni Gracioso, mayroon silang hindi pinagkasunduan. At nakalagay din doon na masama ang loob niya. So yun yung unang motibo niya. At kung makikita mo, mahilig siya sa pera, kasi humingi siya ng pera kay Lord, at hindi sila nagkasundo, hindi ko alam ang nangyari,” she said.

“Sa tingin ko, walang galit si Gracioso sa akin. Motivated by money siya. So ang tao na motivated by money, wala yang feelings eh,” she added.

Duterte maintained that the administration was behind what she described as a smear campaign against her.

“Sino ang nasa likod ng paninira sa akin? Administrasyon. Ang palasyo. Si BBM. Makikita niyo naman yung mga declarations, mga statement ng Office of the President eh,” she said.

“Lahat nung bahid na katiwalian na dapat sagutin ni BBM ay pinapahid niya sa akin. Sa kanya yung isyu ng maleta kasi tumanggap siya ng malet, ayon sa testigo ni Zaldy Co. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa sinasagot,” she added.

The NBI said its probe on Gracioso’s claims remained ongoing.

“Nag-lie detector test but we are not relying on that. Kailangan mag-validate kami. So meron kaming investigation team who’s doing it right now,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said.  

He said investigators first looked into Gracioso’s relationship with the Velascos before examining the other allegations in his sworn statement.

Of the seven “cash houses” mentioned by Gracioso, Matibag said the NBI had already established that two properties on Champaca and Sampaguita streets in Pasig City are owned by the Velasco spouses.

Matibag said the properties were among those visited by the NBI when it served a search warrant in August in connection with a report of illegal firearms.

According to Matibag, Velasco’s wife Rowena was present during the implementation of the search warrant and acknowledged that the property belonged to them.

“So established na yun,” Matibag said.

The NBI also examined Gracioso’s claim that large amounts of money were used to invest in resorts in Marinduque.

Matibag identified the Zara Resort and Cabanas and the Amara Resort as properties being examined by investigators. 

“When we check sa SEC, yung ownership lumalabas sa spouses Velasco,” Matibag said.

He said the Zara Resort and Cabanas is linked to 888 Wealthstar Corporation, which he described as majority-owned by the Velasco spouses. 

The Amara Resort, meanwhile, is linked to Amara Equity Ventures.

“So nakita nyo, it’s massive. Itong Amara, it was incorporated 2018. Ang pera nito nakalagay is P672,000 but if you will look at it, yung value niya is more than P672,000.  ‘Yong Zara naman, parang 20 million lang yung investment na sinasabi doon. Majority of the shares owned by the spouses, Velasco. So anong ibig sabihin nito? Doon sa mga claims ni Mr. Gracioso ng bahay at pag-aari ng mga Velasco, tumatama na,” Matibag added. 

Matibag said the findings so far indicated that some of the claims made by Gracioso concerning the properties and his relationship with the Velascos were consistent with records obtained by the NBI.

“So, lumalabas dito, may katotohanan based on the claims on the relationship and the assets, yung mga binabanggit dito ni Mr. Gracioso,” he said.

However, Matibag stressed that the investigation was far from over.

The NBI will continue examining Securities and Exchange Commission records, General Information Sheets, Bureau of Internal Revenue records and Anti-Money Laundering Council records to determine how the properties were acquired.

“We will continue to investigate based on the records ng mga ownership, corporate interest, yung mga links nito,” Matibag said.

The Velascos, through their lawyers, have denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Duterte was also asked whether she had encouraged Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte to seek a national position.

She said she had not discussed the matter with Baste, but shared a conversation she had with her mother about her brother.

“Hindi namin napag-usapan ni Mayor Sebastian Duterte ang pagtakbo niya bilang pangulo. Pero sa tingin ko nabanggit ko na to dati, na nagsabi talaga yung nanay ko na pinapauwi niya ako ng Davao, at si Baste na lang daw ang patakbuhin sa national elections. Sabi niya, ‘Umuwi ka dito sa Davao. Bahala na si Baste diyan sa national,’” she said.

Duterte declined to comment on a possible running mate for the 2028 national elections.

“Wala pa akong iniisip na tao na sasabihin ko na, ‘Tumakbo ka’. Sa tingin ko sa ugali ko naman, wala akong sasabihan na, ‘tumakbo ka’,” she said.

“Ayaw kong mag-comment diyan dahil ayaw natin na siya na naman yung habulin, siya na naman ang kasuhan, takutin, at lahat-lahat na,” she added.

Duterte declined to comment on matters being discussed in her ongoing impeachment trial, as well as accusations raised by former senator Antonio Trillanes.

She said she could not respond to the issues because she had not yet watched the proceedings or Trillanes’ accusations.