VICE President Sara Duterte on Saturday denied knowing former police corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. or receiving money from him after the former security aide of ex-House speaker Lord Allan Velasco alleged that he delivered more than P2 billion in cash to her.
Gracioso claimed in a sworn affidavit that he delivered suitcases containing P20 million to P50 million to Duterte on more than 20 occasions in Metro Manila, Davao, and other areas.
He also alleged deliveries of cash to her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte.
A lawyer for Velasco, Rowell Ilagan, rejected Gracioso's allegations, calling them "fabricated attacks" with "no basis."
Ilagan emphasized that Velasco's record of government service remains untainted by corruption.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said Gracioso underwent a polygraph examination and that investigators were also validating his claims through other means.
“I do not know Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., nor have I ever received any money from him,” Duterte said.
She said her lawyers were awaiting an official copy of Gracioso’s affidavit from the NBI before beginning work on cases against him.
“Once we are done dismantling the lies contained in his testimony, it will end up in the trash bin — just like the one from Ramil Madriaga,” Duterte said.
Duterte described Gracioso’s testimony as an attempt to revive what she called a “faltering impeachment case.”
“This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case,” Duterte said.
Prosecution presses case
House prosecutors, however, are expected to press their argument that Vice President Duterte’s continued role as a corporate director while in office violated constitutional restrictions on business activities when her impeachment trial resumes next week.
Prosecution spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Saturday that Securities and Exchange Commission records showing Duterte remained a director and stockholder of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. during her vice presidency supported their position.
“Even without getting into details, that alone is a violation of the Constitution,” Adiong said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
Duterte assumed the vice presidency on June 30, 2022. SEC records presented during the trial showed she remained listed as a stockholder and board member of Metro City Chow Foods from 2022 through 2025, with a 20 percent stake in the company.
Adiong said the prosecution’s concern went beyond Duterte’s ownership of shares because she was also listed as a director.
“She is not a mere passive shareholder. She is also one of the directors of one of the companies that she declared in her SALN,” he said, referring to her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution bars the president, vice president and Cabinet members from directly or indirectly participating in business during their tenure and requires them to avoid conflicts of interest.
Adiong said the prosecution believes the evidence could support a finding that Duterte betrayed public trust, but stressed that the Senate Impeachment Court would make the final determination.
“On that basis alone, I think she has already betrayed [public trust]. But then again, we don’t want to preempt,” he said.
Trillanes, Mayor Duterte to testify
The prosecution is also set to present seven witnesses next week in connection with Article II, including former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
Trillanes is expected to testify on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth and receipt or acquisition of funds from persons or sources identified in evidence before the court.
Mayor Duterte, the vice president’s brother, will be asked to shed light on government contracts with a company in which Sara Duterte had an interest, according to her SALN.
