Gracioso allegations vs VP Sara Duterte should be taken 'seriously' --Adiong

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Zia Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Saturday that claims that Vice President Saa Duterte received suitcases containing billions of pesos “have to be taken seriously.”

"These allegations should be taken seriously. Kasi nagpakita siya... I think anyone who comes out with that serious and grave allegations should be taken seriously, and I think the NBI is taking cognizance of this," Adiong said in Bea Pinlac's report.

On Friday, dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. said that he delivered suitcases containing cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte as ordered by former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Gracioso supposedly served as a security officer for Velasco.

The new allegations, according to Adiong, could also be related to VP Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, which is among the articles of impeachment.

“It’s not entirely connected with the articles of impeachment… I do not think it would directly impact the ongoing impeachment trial, but what I can tell you is that this is something that erodes the reputation of those mentioned... Separate po ‘yung impeachment trial,” he added.

The NBI has said that it is investigating Gracioso's claims.

GMA News has sought comments through phone calls and messages from Pulong Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte, and Velasco since Thursday, but they have yet to give any.

Sara denies

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday has issued a statement saying she does not know Gracioso

"Mga kababayan, I do not know Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., nor have I ever received any money from him," Duterte said in a statement.

"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," she added.

"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," Duterte said.

The vice president said Gracioso's allegation is "another media stunt," adding that the Marcos administration is bent on bringing her down.

"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," she said.

"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," Duterte said. —with reports from Bea Pinlac/ VAL, GMA News