Sara Duterte itinangging kilala si Gracioso, tumanggap ng pera mula rito

Itinanggi ni Vice President Sara Duterte nitong Sabado na kilala niya si Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., ang dating pulis na nagsilbing security officer ni dating Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, at hindi rin siya nakatanggap ng pera mula rito.

"Mga kababayan, I do not know Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., nor have I ever received any money from him," sabi ni Duterte sa isang pahayag.

"My lawyers are awaiting an official copy of the Gracioso affidavit from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so they can begin working on the cases to be filed against him," dagdag pa niya.

"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," sabi pa ni Duterte.

Sinabi ng Bise Presidente na "another media stunt" lamang ang mga alegasyon ni Gracioso, at idinagdag na pursigido lamang ang administrasyong Marcos na pabagsakin siya.

"This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case. The desperation of the administration to bring me down, push for Charter Change, prevent the 2028 elections, and cling to power is becoming increasingly diabolical," sabi niya.

"The people want Marcos to take a public drug test. The people want Marcos to answer for the flood control scandal. The people want change," sabi pa ni Duterte.

"No amount of political maneuvering, propaganda, or manufactured distractions can ultimately silence the Filipino people. Shukran," dagdag niya.

Hiningian na ng GMA News Online ang Malacañang ng komento sa pamamagitan ng press officer ng Palasyo na si Undersecretary Claire Castro, ngunit wala pang inilalabas na pahayag ang Palasyo.

Sinabi naman ng kampo ni Velasco na walang basehan ang mga paratang ni Gracioso.

"The former Speaker of the House's record of service in the government is untainted with corruption and his wife's benevolence is widely known, leaving no basis for the illegal allegations now being suggested," ayon kay Atty. Rowell Ilagan, tagapagsalita ng dating Speaker, sa isang pahayag.

"The 'one-size-fits-all' narration by this individual seems to be designed and fabricated to attack as many targets as it can while being inconsistent with verifiable events, that is, the COVID-19 pandemic, Atty. Velasco's period of service as speaker, other details, and even basic common sense."

Iniimbestigahan ng NBI ang mga paratang ni Gracioso, na nagsabing naghatid siya ng mga maleta na may lamang pera kina Duterte, dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, at Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte batay sa mga tagubilin ni Velasco.

Tinatayang nakapaghatid na si Gracioso ng mahigit P2 bilyon kay Sara Duterte.

Sinabi rin niya na nagdala rin siya ng pera kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong 2018 at 2022, at naghatid ng maleta na may lamang P100 milyon kay Pulong Duterte.

Kinumpirma ni Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida sa isang mensahe sa GMA News na natanggap na ng Department of Justice ang affidavit ni Gracioso at sinusuri ito. — VBL GMA News