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Sara Duterte camp studies filing perjury case vs Gracioso

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Mary Joy Salcedo

Sara Duterte camp studies filing perjury case vs Gracioso — FROM LEFT: Father Flavie Villanueva and former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. face the media after appearing before the NBI over Gracioso’s alleged cash deliveries to the Dutertes. INQUIRER file photo / Mary Joy Salcedo

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp is studying filing a perjury case against dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., according to her legal counsel Atty. Clifford Chua.

Chua said this on Thursday as he appeared at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to represent Duterte in complying with the invitation letter sent to her.

The counsel said he submitted her affidavit regarding Gracioso’s “cash delivery” allegations that implicate the vice president.

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READ: VP Sara Duterte no-show at NBI, lawyer submits affidavit

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“Ang alam ko po, pinag-aaralan po ‘yan,” Chua said in an ambush interview when asked about NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s remark that the vice president herself can directly file a perjury case against Gracioso.

(What I know is that it is being studied.)

But the legal counsel noted that “this would still depend on the decision of our vice president.”

Earlier, Duterte said she expects that the NBI would file perjury cases against Gracioso “once the agency completes its investigation and the evidence is fully evaluated.”

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READ: Matibag dares Sara Duterte to reveal alleged ‘conflict of interest’

In response, Matibag said that the bureau evaluates if Gracioso’s affidavit equates to “perjury,” but he also pointed out that Duterte’s camp can already lodge a direct filing “if they can identify that there is a real violation.”

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Gracioso is claiming to have delivered more than P2 billion to the vice president, as well as P1 billion to former President Rodrigo Duterte and P100 million to Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte in tranches starting in 2018 upon the instructions of his former boss, former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Velasco—who is still reportedly out of the country—likewise earlier released a statement denying Gracioso’s claims. /jpv

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