Sara Duterte: Marcos admin behind Gracioso allegations

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Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his administration are behind the allegations against her.

Duterte issued the remark amid the claims of dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. that she received suitcases of cash from former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

“Administrasyon. Sino ang nasa likod ng paninira sa akin? Administrasyon. Ang Palasyo, si BBM,” Duterte said in a press briefing.

(The administration. Who is behind the smear campaign against me? The administration. The Palace, BBM.)

“Makikita ninyo naman ‘yung mga declarations, mga statements ng Office of the President, eh. Nandyan pa ‘yung impeachment nila,” she added.

(You can see the declarations, the statements of the Office of the President. There is also the impeachment trial against me.)

Aside from Duterte, Gracioso claimed that he delivered cash to Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte and former President Rodrigo Duterte on Velasco’s instructions.

Duterte denied the allegations, saying she will submit her affidavit on Thursday.

The Vice President is also the subject of a trial before the Senate impeachment court, which entered its 34th day on Tuesday.

Duterte, represented by her lawyers, has yet to personally appear before the trial.

She said the allegations against her were originally directed against Marcos.

“Lahat nung bahid na katiwalian na dapat sagutin ni BBM ay pinapahid niya sa akin. Sa kanya ‘yung issue ng maleta kasi tumanggap siya ng maleta ayon sa testigo ni Zaldy Co. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa sinasagot,” Duterte said.

(All the traces of corruption that BBM should answer for, he is pinning on me. The suitcase issue belongs to him because, according to Zaldy Co’s witness, he received a suitcase. Until now, it has not been answered.)

In November 2025, Marcos brushed off former lawmaker Zaldy Co’s claims that he, along with former Speaker Martin Romualdez and other Cabinet officials, orchestrated the P100-billion insertions for projects in the 2025 national budget during the Bicam process.

In response, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the allegations against Duterte are her own making.

“Sila ang nakinabang sa bawat sentimo na nakukuha nila o nadedeposito sa kanilang account ng mga banyaga at diumano'y drug lords,” she said.

(They are the ones who benefited from every centavo they received or that was allegedly deposited into their accounts by foreigners and alleged drug lords.)

“Ang sarap at pagpapasasa ay nasa kanila, kaya huwag magturo sa iba kapag nagkakabulgaran na ng mga anomalya. Panindigan nila ang mga ginawa nila,” she added.

(They enjoyed the lavish lifestyle, so they should not point fingers at others when the anomalies are being exposed. They should stand by what they have done.) —AOL, GMA News