The Gracioso affidavit: Ex-cop claims he delivered millions to Sara Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is in the middle of an impeachment trial that could oust her from office, is facing yet another allegation.

This time, the so-called revelation comes from a former member of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In his eight-page affidavit, former police corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., 36, claimed he had delivered suitcases containing millions of pesos to Duterte on different occasions. He also claimed he had served as former House speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s security detail.

Duterte, in a statement, denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him. The Vice President also said they were still waiting for a copy of his affidavit before considering possible legal action 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. This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case,” said Duterte.

“No amount of political maneuvering, propaganda, or manufactured distractions can ultimately silence the Filipino people,” she added.

On Monday, September 28, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. confirmed that Gracioso used to be a policeman until he was dismissed from service due to a case. He also confirmed that the former police corporal used to be part of Velasco’s security detail.

We have reached out to the other individuals mentioned in the affidavit. We will update this story once they respond.

First alleged deliveries

According to Gracioso, he became a member of the PNP in 2015. Two years later, in 2017, he was deployed to Marawi during the siege and worked under his battalion commander, Police Brigadier General Segundo Lagundi.

After the Marawi siege, the former cop said he and other Marawi veterans were assigned as close-in security aides of Velasco and his wife, Rowena Amara. He said he became Velasco’s head of security in 2018 and served as the lawmaker’s security aide until 2024.

As the security head, Gracioso said he was tasked to greet and give protection to the couple’s visitors. He claimed that Velasco told him that the most important guest was Duterte, who was the then-Davao City mayor.

Gracioso said he first met Duterte in 2018 at a hangar in Pasay City where she had landed in a private plane. He claimed he drove Duterte to a hotel in Manila in a white Ford Savannah van. During the trip, the former cop alleged that he told Duterte that Rowena had a gift for her, which was stored in a paper bag and a small suitcase.

The former cop alleged that Duterte took the paper bag and ordered him to give the suitcase to Jefry Tupas, a former Davao City information officer.

“Ang laman ng inabot kong paper bag ay Royce chocolates na paborito daw ni Ma’am Sara at ang maliit na maleta naman ay naglalaman ng [P20-million] cash (The paper bag contains Royce chocolates said to be Ma’am Sara’s favorite, while the small suitcase contained P20-million cash),” he alleged in his affidavit.

Gracioso alleged that there were similar incidents like this, almost 10 times, from 2018 to 2020. He also claimed that whenever Duterte arrived at the Pasay City hangar, he would fetch her.

“Pinaabutan siya ni Boss Allan ng pasalubong na Royce Chocolate at maleta na naglalaman ng nasa sampu hanggang dalawampung milyong piso (P10-20 million) na ‘budget’ niya sa pagiikot. Personal ko itong inaabot kay Ma’am Sara o minsan kapag kasama niya ang katiwala na si Jepoy (Tupas) ay dito niya ito pinaaabot,” the former cop claimed.

(Boss Allan always gave Duterte Royce chocolates and suitcases containing between P10 million and P20 million, which was Duterte’s budget for “going around.” I personally handed these to Ma’am Sara, or sometimes through Tupas..)

Alleged trips, deliveries to Davao

Before the campaign for the 2019 midterm elections, Gracioso alleged that Velasco ordered him to deliver a Toyota Grandia van and a Cadillac Escalade containing money and gifts to Duterte in Davao. Gracioso alleged they delivered these to Duterte’s residence and told her that they were from Rowena.

He also alleged that he gave the paper bag to Duterte, who supposedly told him to give the suitcase to Tupas. He said he and Tupas then went to the vehicles and gave Duterte’s aide a suitcase containing P50 million in cash, along with the keys to the two vehicles.

During the 2019 election campaign, Gracioso alleged, he gave Duterte kakanin (rice cakes) and two large suitcases while they were in Marinduque. He said each suitcase contained P50 million.

“Sabi ni Ma’am Sara na ibigay kay Jepoy ang dalawang (2) malaking maleta at mga kakanin (rice cakes). Inabot ko ‘yong dalawang malaking maleta na naglalaman ng [P50-million] cash bawat isa at ‘yong mga kakanin kay Jepoy bago sila sumakay ng eroplano,” the former cop claimed.

(Ma’am Sara told me to give the two big suitcases and the kakanin to Jepoy. I gave him the two suitcases, each containing P50 million in cash, and the rice cakes before they boarded the plane.)

Gracioso also claimed that after the Moriones Festival in 2019, they went to Velasco’s house in Valle Verde 2, Pasig City, to get money before flying to Davao from the private hangar in Pasay City. The former cop said they brought two large suitcases containing about P100 million, which was supposedly intended for the additional expenses of Duterte’s regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

On one occasion, Gracioso said, they went to Davao to deliver two brand new Toyota Super Grandia vans, one of them bulletproof. He claimed they stuffed the vehicles with cash and gifts stored in various boxes and suitcases. The smallest suitcase contained around P20 million, while the larger suitcases contained P50 million each.

The bulletproof van allegedly contained the cash, while the other vehicle carried gifts such as watches, Royce chocolates, and branded bags.

Co, Madriaga, and more names

Before the May 2019 elections, Gracioso alleged, Velasco told them to pack money into about 20 balikbayan boxes and suitcases. They also brought boxes of cigarettes and noodles. He claimed the money came from former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co.

Gracioso alleged that Velasco ordered them to set aside one suitcase containing about P20 million, which would be used to buy motorcycles for HNP’s election caravan. After packing the money and gifts into two Grandia vans, he claimed that they traveled from Samar to Davao City.

The former cop alleged that he handed Royce chocolates and a Patek Philippe watch to Duterte, while he left the keys to the vehicles with Tupas.

Gracioso also claimed that he met Ramil Madriaga, a self-confessed bagman of Duterte. He alleged that Duterte introduced Madriaga to him, and the Vice President supposedly told him to give the money for the motorcycles to Madriaga.

“Iniabot ko nga ang maleta ng pera na naglalaman ng higit kumulang [P20 million] kay Sir Ramil sa utos ni Ma’am Sara. Noong nabili na ni Sir Ramil ang mga big bike para kay Ma’am Sara, sumama ako kay Ma’am Sara para sa election caravan ng HNP sa Mindanao,” the affidavit reads.

(I gave the suitcase containing around P20 million to Sir Ramil based on Ma’am Sara’s order. When Ramil bought the big bikes for Ma’am Sara, I joined her for the HNP’s election caravan in Mindanao.)

He narrated that he once saw Madriaga in Velasco’s home because Duterte allegedly ordered Madriaga to get P20 million for a motorcycle-riding course in Davao. Gracioso alleged that he personally handed over the money to Madriaga.

Gracioso also listed other alleged deliveries to Duterte. He claimed he gave two suitcases containing P50 million each on September 21, 2019. He also said that during the dry season in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he allegedly delivered three suitcases to Duterte in Cebu.

When Velasco became the House speaker in 2020, Gracioso said, the alleged deliveries of money to Velasco’s house became more frequent. The money allegedly came from different personalities like Co, now Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo, and a lawyer named Honey Sipin.

“Kay Sir Miro Quimbo ko din narinig noong nasa Starbucks Katipunan, malapit sa Miriam College, na galing ang pera kila Curlee Discaya at Sarah Discaya at iba pang DPWH contractor (I’ve heard from Sir Miro Quimbo while we’re in Starbucks Katipunan near Miriam College that the money came from Curlee and Sarah Discaya, and other DPWH contractors),” the former cop claimed.

Gracioso alleged that in 2021, he went to Davao to deliver a suitcase containing P20 million intended for a riders’ training and to buy motorcycles for Duterte’s security people. The former policeman also alleged that he went to Davao on another occasion to deliver about 10 large suitcases that he said came from Co’s security detail.

When Velasco supposedly bought a house in Valle Verde 2, Duterte made frequent visits there. During the Vice President’s alleged first visit there, Velasco allegedly asked to bring out two big suitcases with cash that allegedly came from the collections of Quimbo.

The suitcases allegedly contained more or less P100 million, according to Gracioso. Tupas allegedly received the money on Duterte’s behalf.

Gracioso also alleged that he delivered around P80 million in two suitcases to Duterte at the Quezon Memorial Circle. In Subic Safari in Subic Bay Freeport, the former cop also alleged that he delivered two suitcases with P50 million each to the Vice President.

In 2021, Gracioso claimed that Velasco allegedly told them to pack more than P200 million cash into suitcases and boxes for Duterte. Again, he said, Tupas allegedly received the delivery.

“Nagkaron na din ng pagkakataon na sabay akong nag-deliver ng maleta ng pera sa Davao para kay Ma’am Sara at para kay Cong. Paolo Duterte. Sa utos pa [rin] ni Boss Allan, nag deliver din ako ng maleta ng pera para kay Congressman Paolo Duterte sa isang bar sa Davao at sa iba’t iba pang lugar sa Metro Manila,” Gracioso claimed.

(There were also times when I delivered money to Davao for Ma’am Sara and Congressman Paolo Duterte. Based on Boss Allan’s order, I delivered a suitcase to Congressman Paolo Duterte at a bar in Davao and in different places in Metro Manila.)

What now?

Gracioso’s statements, in the affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), are just allegations. It’s up to the government’s investigative bodies to assess if there’s merit in these claims and pursue investigations, if warranted, into those mentioned.

On Tuesday, September 29, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that Velasco was out of the country.

“Based on the Bureau’s records, there was no existing Hold Departure Order (HDO) or derogatory alert that would have prevented his departure from the Philippines. The BI cannot disclose further details concerning an individual’s immigration records due to data privacy concerns,” the BI said.

For Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Gracioso needs to be examined to determine if his statements are factual. But, for now, the Ombudsman thinks the allegations would eventually reach his office.

“Hindi pa ako puwedeng mag-judge e. Kailangang masubukan pa siya nang husto sa mga tanong na matindi para malaman natin kung totoo ang kanyang sinasabi (I cannot judge for now. We need to examine him more with tough questions to check if he’s telling the truth),” Remulla said in a chance interview.

The NBI is currently in the process of validating Gracioso’s claims. On September 28, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said his office will invite, not subpoena, the people mentioned in the affidavit, like the Vice President and Velasco, among others.

Catholic priest Father Flavie Villanueva, who was with Gracioso on Monday when he appeared before the NBI, said Gracioso reached out to him due to his father’s passing as well as the ex-cop’s anger toward the Velascos.

“Pitong taon siyang nagtrabaho bilang security, driver, head security sa mag-asawa. Pero sa panahon ng kagipitan, na kumakatok siya sa pinto ng mag-asawa para mapagamot ang kanyang sarili, mapagamot ang kanyang ama na may sakit, walang tulong na dumating,” Villanueva said in a Facts First interview with Christian Esguerra.

(He worked as security, driver, head of security for the couple for seven years. But in his time of need, when he needed the Velascos for help for his medical treatment, treatment for his father who’s suffering from an illness, no help arrived.) – Rappler.com