VP Sara denies receiving P2 billion from ex-Velasco aide

MANILA, Philippines, September 28 ------ Vice President Sara Duterte has denied allegations made by a security officer of former speaker Lord Allan Velasco that he delivered suitcases containing cash amounting to P2 billion to her, and to her father former president Rodrigo Duterte and brother Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte. “I do not know Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., nor have I ever received any money from him. 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,” Duterte said in a statement.

Duterte said 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.” Gracioso, a former policeman, said the money was delivered to the Dutertes upon instructions from Velasco. “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 added.

Duterte filed a perjury complaint against Madriaga, her former aide who accused her of bankrolling her vice presidential campaign in 2022 using “dark money” from drug lords and the now-banned Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGO. Duterte in August filed a second perjury complaint against Madriaga after the latter supposedly made false statements in his supplemental affidavit last April.

During the second impeachment hearing against Duterte at the House of Representatives in April, Madriaga claimed that P125 million in Duterte’s confidential fund was disposed of in just 24 hours and not 11 days. The Taguig prosecutor’s office dismissed the first perjury case filed by Duterte. “This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case,” Duterte added.

The Senate impeachment court is currently deliberating on a case filed against Duterte by the House of Representatives. Duterte said no amount of “political maneuvering, propaganda, or manufactured distractions can ultimately silence the Filipino people.” “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,” she said.

Source: philstar.com