Sara Duterte says NBI may file perjury case vs. Gracioso over alleged false claims

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Vice President Sara Duterte said she expects the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file a perjury case against former cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. after the agency completes its investigation and determines that allegations against her were false.

In a statement, Duterte confirmed her office has received a copy of the Gracioso affidavit from the NBI along with identification documents, but without other attachments.

Duterte said she counted 29 statements from the affidavit, which she believed were "false."

"Among several other pieces of my evidence, Jefry Tupas and I were nowhere near Marinduque during Mahal na Araw in 2019, nor were we in Manila on September 21, 2019," she said.

"NBI Director Melvin Matibag noted that a perjury case may be possible if the allegations are proven false. We expect a case to be filed by the NBI against Gracioso once the agency completes its investigation and the evidence is fully evaluated," she said.

Gracioso, who was part of the security detail of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco before, earlier said that he delivered suitcases containing cash to VP Sara Duterte, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Velasco’s instructions.

Gracioso estimated that he had delivered a total of more than P2 billion to Sara Duterte.

The NBI said it is investigating the claims of Gracioso.

Matibag also said the NBI will invite VP Sara, Pulong Duterte, Velasco, and Velasco’s wife to get their comment on the claims of cash delivery by Gracioso.

Duterte, however, has said that she does not know Gracioso, and she did not receive any money from him.

Velasco’s camp also said the allegations against him had “no basis.” —LDF, GMA News