VP Duterte denies receiving money from politician's former security officer

Vice President Sara Duterte denied receiving money from Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., saying her lawyers were awaiting an official copy of his affidavit from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before pursuing legal action against him.

In a statement, Duterte said she does not know Gracioso and had never received money from him. Gracioso, a former police officer, previously served as a security officer for former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

“My lawyers are awaiting an official copy of the Gracioso affidavit from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so they can begin working on the cases to be filed against him,” she said.

Duterte also dismissed Gracioso's testimony as lies, saying she would have her lawyers challenge his claims once they obtained the affidavit.

“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,” she added.

Duterte described the matter as “nothing more than another media stunt,” accusing the administration of attempting to revive what she called a faltering impeachment case against her.

“The desperation of the administration to bring me down, push for Charter Change, prevent the 2028 elections, and cling to power is becoming increasingly diabolical,” she said.

The vice president further called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take a public drug test and answer for the flood control scandal.

She added that political maneuvering, propaganda and what she described as manufactured distractions would not silence the Filipino people.

The NBI is looking into Gracioso’s allegations that, upon Velasco’s instructions, he delivered suitcases filled with cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.

Gracioso alleges that the cash he delivered to Vice President Duterte totaled more than P2 billion. He also claimed to have brought money to then-President Rodrigo Duterte to Malacañang from 2018 to 2022, as well as delivering a suitcase containing P100 million to Pulong Duterte.