Vice President Sara Duterte accused the Marcos administration of becoming increasingly desperate to bring her down, as she dismissed allegations by former police corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that he delivered more than P2 billion in cash to 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,” Duterte said in a statement Saturday.
Duterte denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him.
“I do not know Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., nor have I ever received any money from him,” she said.
Gracioso, who said he served as former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s head of security beginning in 2018 and during Velasco’s speakership from 2020 to 2022, claimed in an affidavit that he delivered suitcases containing between P20 million and P50 million to Duterte and other members of the Duterte family.
He estimated that he delivered more than P2 billion to Duterte in more than 20 transactions, including an alleged P20-million delivery in 2018 and a P500-million delivery in 2021 involving three vans.
His affidavit reportedly detailed alleged cash deliveries in Metro Manila, Davao City and other locations.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating Gracioso’s allegations. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau conducted a polygraph examination on Gracioso and validated some of his statements through other means.
Gracioso reportedly approached the NBI with the assistance of priest and human rights advocate Father Flaviano Villanueva.
He also alleged that some of the cash deliveries were connected to collections from government agencies and public works projects. He further claimed to have encountered Ramil Madriaga, whom he described as Duterte’s alleged bagman and aide.
Duterte said her lawyers are awaiting an official copy of Gracioso’s affidavit from the NBI before taking legal action.
“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. 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,” the vice president said.
She described the allegations as “nothing more than another media stunt” aimed at reviving her impeachment case.
“This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case,” she said.
Duterte also accused the administration of using the issue as part of a broader effort to remove her from office, push Charter Change and prevent the 2028 elections.
“The people want Marcos to take a public drug test. The people want Marcos to answer for the flood control scandal. The people want change. No amount of political maneuvering, propaganda, or manufactured distractions can ultimately silence the Filipino people,” Duterte added.
