MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte issued a formal response on Monday evening regarding the affidavit submitted by dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Duterte confirmed that her office received a copy of the Gracioso affidavit along with identification papers from the bureau, though she noted that no supplementary attachments were included.
Based on the review by her camp, the Vice President stated that the document contains 29 separate claims directed at her that she asserted are entirely false.
As part of her defense, Duterte highlighted travel discrepancies within the allegations.
"Among several other pieces of my evidence, Jefry Tupas and I were nowhere near Marinduque during Mahal na Araw in 2019, nor were we in Manila on September 21, 2019," she stated.
The controversy stems from statements made by Gracioso, a dismissed policeman and former security detail for former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who alleged that he was instructed to personally transport billions of pesos in cash to the Vice President and her family.
Duterte receives NBI invite for investigation on Gracioso's allegations
Earlier in the day, legal representatives for the former House Speaker appeared at the NBI office to address and refute the cash transfer claims.
Velasco knows Gracioso, denies money delivery claims — lawyer
Commenting on the prospect of legal accountability, Duterte pointed out remarks made by NBI Director Melvin Matibag indicating that perjury charges could materialize if the accusations are ultimately proven baseless.
"We expect a case to be filed by the NBI against Gracioso once the agency completes its investigation and the evidence is fully evaluated," Duterte added in her official statement.