VICE President Sara Duterte issued a comprehensive, point-by-point denial on Tuesday of the allegations made by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claims he personally delivered suitcases of cash to her on multiple occasions.
“I strongly deny the statements made by Rodulfo Mondigo Gracioso Jr. in his sworn affidavit and media interviews linking me to events that I did not commit, did not know about, or did not personally experience,” the Vice President declared during a press briefing.
She announced that her formal, sworn affidavit responding to the claims will be submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, October 8.
Gracioso had alleged he handed over billions of pesos to Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on the instructions of then‑House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Duterte systematically dismantled specific details from his account, citing official schedules, travel records, and security protocols to prove she could not have been present at the times and places described. She released a day‑by‑day itinerary from April 14–25, 2019 — the period Gracioso referenced — showing she was in Davao City, Mati, Tagum, Digos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Cotabato, Kidapawan, Malaybalay, Valencia, Puerto Princesa, Bongao, and Jolo, as well as on the island of Buenavista, with no gap or opportunity to meet him in Pasay or Manila as claimed. She also noted that from 2016 to 2022, her movements were strictly managed by the Presidential Security Group, which arranged all travel through official lounges and terminals, never involving private hangars, unmarked vehicles, or clandestine hotel meetings.
Duterte further disputed numerous specifics in Gracioso’s narrative: she does not own a white Ford Savanna van; Diamond Hotel has no record of her visiting on the alleged dates; her home at the time was too small to have a “receiving area” as described; she is diabetic and rarely eats sweets, contradicting the claim that Royce Chocolate is her favorite; and she has never owned a Hermès bag or Patek Philippe watch.
She also clarified that former Davao City information officer Jefry Tupas was never her personal aide, assistant, or financial custodian, and suggested Gracioso singled Tupas out based on homophobic assumptions. “Gracioso chose to include Tupas in the lies because he thought Tupas was a follower or lackey simply because we are friends and he attended my events,” she stated.
Regarding her relationship with the Velascos, Duterte confirmed she met Lord Allan and his wife Rowena during her father’s presidency, but understood Gracioso to be among the aides Rowena had assigned to monitor her husband’s personal conduct — not a courier for cash transfers.
“Lord explained that the group of men were sent by Wen to watch and report to her if he was seeing other women,” she said. She also denied knowing Ramil Madriaga, another self‑proclaimed “bagman,” and pointed out that Madriaga himself never mentioned the specific ₱20‑million handover at her home that Gracioso described. Duterte concluded by stating that her legal team is preparing to file appropriate charges against Gracioso once his affidavit is officially obtained from the NBI.
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