DAVAO City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte filed libel and cyberlibel complaints Friday against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., and personnel from GMA Network’s 24 Oras over reports alleging suitcases of cash were delivered to him.
“I filed these cases because their statements are baseless and clearly meant to destroy my reputation,” Duterte stated in a Bisaya interview, adding the action was undertaken “for my children and my family.” The complaint stems from a September 25 broadcast where Gracioso claimed he delivered cash to Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte, and former President Rodrigo Duterte on the instructions of then-House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Legal counsel Atty. Peter Paul Danao clarified that the congressman denies knowing Gracioso and rejects the claim of receiving any suitcase filled with money. “He did not meet Gracioso, and no such delivery ever took place,” Danao emphasized. The suit seeks ₱10 million in moral damages and ₱10 million in exemplary damages. Duterte described the allegations as “pure fiction — a fairy‑tale lie,” while Velasco’s camp has also dismissed the claims as having no basis. Vice President Sara Duterte has similarly denied involvement and submitted her own affidavit to the NBI.
Matibag acknowledged the filing as Duterte’s legal right, remarking: “We cannot stop him. It is good that this is now brought before the justice system.” GMA Network stated it has not yet received a copy of the complaint and will review it before responding. Gracioso’s allegations remain central to broader inquiries into alleged kickbacks linked to infrastructure projects, with multiple parties now pursuing separate legal paths to clear their names.
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