Claims of ex-cop vs the Dutertes may be elevated to Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — The claims of a dismissed cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. against Vice President Duterte and her other family members may reach the Office of the Ombudsman, its chief Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.

Last week, Gracioso surfaced and claimed that he allegedly delivered suitcases of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.

Gracioso, who claimed to be a former security aide of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, said the deliveries were done upon alleged instruction of the said ex-Marinduque lawmaker.

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The Vice President and Velasco have denied the claims of Gracioso.

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Asked if the Ombudsman will investigate the claims of Gracioso’s claims, Remulla said in an ambush interview in Filipino: “I think that will eventually reach my office. But for now, we’re just watching these shocking developments unfold. Let’s watch them first. If there is anything we can do in terms of an investigation, we’ll do it at the right time.”

Needs to be tested

For now, Remulla said he could not pass judgment on the claims of Gracioso, whom he said needs to be tested.

“He still needs to be thoroughly tested with tough questions to determine whether what he is saying is true,” Remulla said.

“Of course, we cannot just swallow everything. We have to examine it carefully to see whether what he is saying is actually believable,” he continued.

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On Monday, Gracioso appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to present “evidence,” including photos of himself with Vice President Duterte that he submitted to the bureau.

READ: Ex-cop appears before NBI over alleged ‘cash delivery’ to Dutertes

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Aside from the photos, he said he also submitted other evidence to the NBI, such as videos showing his alleged delivery of more than P2 billion to the Vice President, P1 billion to the former President, and P100 million to the congressman in tranches.

As for Velasco, Remulla noted that the former lawmaker’s name has been previously mentioned in their probe.

“But only now has someone come forward and spoken about him. We already know a lot, but when it’s just hearsay or gossip, we don’t pay attention to it. There really has to be evidence,” he said.

READ: Remulla: One of ‘maleta’ deliveries appears to occur during Duterte time

Lawyer Rowell Ilagan, spokesperson for the former Marinduque lawmaker, said in a statement over the weekend that “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.”

Ilagan said Gracioso’s “one-size-fits-all narration” appears to be “designed and fabricated to attack as many targets as it can while being inconsistent with verifiable events.”

The lawyer urged the public “to be more circumspect” in appreciating such reports “while we evaluate and determine the accountability of the individual and the publisher under the law.”

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Last March, Remulla, citing a “reliable source,” said at least one of the alleged deliveries of “maleta” appears to have already occurred even during the time of Velasco. /cb