The ‘maleta boys’ keep coming. Now, they’re implicating Sara Duterte

'CHRIS'. An alleged bagman named Chris claims to have delivered suitcases of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte. Her spokesman denies it.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo dismisses the allegations made by another supposed bagman, calling him a 'planted witness'

AT A GLANCE

• A man named Chris, claiming to be a former driver of a Duterte ally, testified about delivering suitcases of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte.
• Chris provided screenshots as evidence of his claims, stating he was instructed not to document their activities but did so anyway.
• The Duterte camp dismissed Chris' allegations as fabricated.

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Another alleged bagman who claims to have delivered suitcases of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte has come forward.

On Thursday, October 29, a man using the alias “Chris” showed up at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to testify about the alleged deliveries.

He identified himself as the former driver of former House speaker Lord Allan Velasco, a known Duterte ally. Chris said he worked for Velasco for two years, from 2020 to 2022.

He was wearing a butter-yellow hoodie. His face was covered by a neck gaiter, leaving only his eyes visible.

Chris claimed that, from 2021 to 2022, he delivered suitcases that, he was told, contained money for Duterte, following Velasco’s instructions.

Chris said he learned that the deliveries were intended for Duterte from a certain Victor Sioco, whom he identified as Velasco’s head driver.

Chris also said he worked alongside Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., a self-confessed bagman who previously claimed to have delivered money to Duterte.

Chris, however, admitted that he never personally saw what was inside the suitcases.

How did Chris back up his claims?

Asked by reporters to back up his claims with evidence, Chris showed screenshots of his Facebook MyDay posts.

One showed a black background with the words “OTW DAVAO” in white text. Chris said he posted it on June 16, 2021. He also showed a photo of a white car that, he claimed, was driven by Sioco.

Chris said they were told not to take photos or post anything about their activities on social media. However, he said he still did, defying the instruction.

Chris said one delivery took three days, with the group traveling from Manila to Matnog Port in Sorsogon before reaching Davao City.

He described their destination as a compound surrounded by tall walls and a gate.

In a written testimony submitted to the NBI, Chris recalled another alleged delivery in 2021.

He said he was driving a Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia van carrying 12 suitcases. Two bodyguards accompanied him. One of them he identified only by the nickname “Panther.”

“Nagtaka ako noon kung bakit kami may dalang ganoong karaming maleta gayong ang aming pupuntahan ay isang golf course. Napansin ko rin na may mga maleta ring karga ang sasakyan ni Boss Allan. Sinabihan ako na huwag magtanong at magkwekwento sa kung ano man ang aking nakita o narinig,” Chris said in his written statement.

(I wondered why we were bringing so many suitcases when we were only going to a golf course. I also noticed that Boss Allan’s vehicle had several suitcases in it. I was told not to ask questions or tell anyone about anything I had seen or heard.)

Upon reaching Valley Golf, Chris said the two bodyguards got out of the vehicle and brought down the suitcases while he stayed inside the car. The bodyguards returned without the luggage.

The group then headed back to Valle Verde, where Velasco lives. After the alleged delivery, Chris said Sioco handed him an envelope containing P150,000.

Tanim witness?

The Duterte camp dismissed Chris’ claims. “Another day, another tanim (planted) witness,” Duterte’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo said on Friday, October 30.

“They can keep manufacturing allegations, but they cannot fabricate the truth. As before, VP Sara will happily dismantle each allegation with evidence at the proper time,” Panelo said.

He challenged the media to “independently test and verify these claims.”

Panelo said the media, which he referred to as the “fourth estate,” were being “weaponized for the relentless, but ultimately ineffective, black propaganda against the Vice President.”

Remember the other ‘maleta boys’?

Chris is not the first person to come forward with claims about suitcases of money allegedly delivered to politicians.

Last year, in the wake of the flood control corruption scandal, several individuals identifying themselves as former drivers, bagmen, and security aides of politicians have made similar allegations.

Remember Orly Guteza, who identified himself as a bagman of former congressman Zaldy Co?

He claimed that he delivered money to former House speaker Martin Romualdez, but later withdrew his allegations.

Then there were Guteza’s supposed colleagues, the 18 alleged former Marines who identified themselves as former security aides of Co.

They went public with a series of claims implicating several politicians — including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. They were accused of receiving suitcases filled with cash.

Now, there’s Chris and Gracioso, who said they were among those tasked to bring suitcases to Duterte.

From Co to Romualdez to Marcos and now Duterte, the alleged maleta (luggage) boys have been naming some of the country’s most powerful politicians.

But their accounts have also come under close scrutiny. Some claims have been denied. Others have been questioned because of inconsistencies.

So, who’s telling the truth and what are their motivations?

Are these maleta boys really coming forward to expose corruption or are they being used as pawns by warring politicians? – Rappler.com