Paolo Duterte files cyber libel complaint vs GMA Network over Gracioso report

PULONG. Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte arrives at the Quezon City RTC on September 11, 2026, to accompany his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is attending arraignment proceedings for a grave threat case.

Jire Carreon/Rappler

The complaint comes weeks after Vice President Sara Duterte jokingly said in a press conference that she would file a libel suit against GMA Network over the Gracioso report

AT A GLANCE

• Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte filed a cyber libel complaint against GMA Network officials and journalists over bribery claims involving him and Vice President Sara Duterte.
• The complaint, based on an affidavit by former cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., alleges that he delivered large sums of money to both Duterte and the Vice President during her tenure as mayor.
• Vice President Duterte denied the allegations in a press conference and jokingly suggested filing her own libel complaint against GMA Network.

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MANILA, Philippines – Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte filed a cyber libel complaint against officials and journalists of GMA Network over the latter’s report about bribery claims against him and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Representative Duterte filed the complaint with the Davao City prosecutor’s office on Friday, October 23, against the following:

• National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag
• Former cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
• GMA chairman Felipe Gozon
• GMA president Gilberto Duavit Jr.
• GMA anchors Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales, Emil Sumangil
• GMA senior reporter Darlene Cay
• GMA executive producer Marvin Parado
• GMA director Joel San Luis

“GMA Network has yet to receive a copy of the complaint. We will review the matter and comment accordingly upon receipt,” GMA Network said in a statement.

The legal action is still at the complaint level. Prosecutors will assess first if the complaint has sufficient evidence to become a case. If the prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction is found, the prosecutors will indict the respondents and file a case with the court.

In his eight-page affidavit, Gracioso claimed that he delivered millions of pesos to the Vice President when she was still the mayor of Davao City. He alleged that there were similar incidents like this, almost 10 times, from 2018 to 2020.

He also claimed there that he allegedly delivered money to Representative Duterte.

GMA Network was the first to publish a report about Gracioso’s affidavit.

Days later, on October 6, the Vice President held a press conference where she denied the allegations. She also said there that Gracioso was motivated by anger and money. In the same press conference, Vice President Duterte jokingly said that she would file a libel complaint against the network.

“Puwede ko ba i-libel ang GMA News nito? Hindi man lang sila nag-check ba? Nagturo. Libel ko itong GMA. Magkano? P200 million para pumera naman ako dito. Imagine, nagturo ng bahay namin. Hindi man lang chineck kung totoong bahay namin ‘yon,” the Vice President jokingly said.

(Can I file a libel complaint against GMA News? Did they not check? I will file a libel complaint against GMA. How much? P200 million so I can get money from this? Imagine, they pointed a supposed house. They did not even check if that is really our house.)

The Gracioso affidavit is the latest allegation hurled at the Vice President, who’s currently in the middle of an impeachment trial at the Senate.

In late 2025, self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, through affidavits, tagged the Vice President to the Philippine offshore gaming operators and confidential funds issue. Vice President Duterte filed two separate perjury complaints against Madriaga, but the Taguig City prosecutor’s office already junked the first complaint. – Rappler.com