The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) urged Vice President Sara Duterte to submit evidence supporting her claim that 29 statements made by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. are false, adding that the bureau is willing to investigate and compare them with evidence already in its possession.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the Vice President may personally appear before the agency or submit a letter containing the documents and evidence that would contradict Gracioso’s allegations.
“We are more than willing to investigate it and match it against other evidence,” Matibag said, adding that Duterte’s camp has the right to confront the NBI with evidence disputing Gracioso’s sworn statements.
“Madali nila rito yung sinasabing 29. Bakit? Ano yung ipipigbay na 29 na violations? And ibanggan natin,” Matibag said.
The NBI chief emphasized that claims must still be established through evidence and verification.
“Madali yung claims but you have to establish evidence and that's what we are doing right now,” he said.
Matibag said Duterte’s camp could identify the 29 statements it considers false and provide supporting documents so investigators can validate them against the evidence gathered in the ongoing probe.
“If they can identify na meron talagang violation, pwede naman sila mag-direct filing but we will be happy to help them,” he said.
The NBI has also said it will continue looking into whether Gracioso’s statements contain perjurious claims, even if Duterte’s camp does not personally appear before the bureau.
“At the same way, kung hindi naman din sila pumunta, we will find ways to validate kung meron talagang perjurius doon sa mga sinasabi ni Mr. Gracioso,” Matibag said.
Duterte’s camp is expected to appear before the NBI on October 8 after requesting the rescheduling of her earlier scheduled appearance. Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte was separately invited to appear before the bureau on October 12.
Matibag clarified that the invitations are intended to give the individuals named in Gracioso’s affidavit an opportunity to respond to the allegations. The NBI has previously said it would validate the claims, photographs and other documents submitted by Gracioso as part of its investigation.
The development came after Vice President Duterte said Monday that her camp had identified 29 statements in Gracioso’s affidavit that it believes are false. She also said she had evidence disputing some of the claims, including allegations concerning her whereabouts in 2019.
Duterte earlier said she expects the NBI to file a perjury case against Gracioso if the allegations are proven false. The NBI has likewise said that Gracioso could face a perjury complaint if investigators establish that his statements were deliberately untruthful.
Gracioso, a former security aide to then-House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, has alleged that he delivered large amounts of cash to members of the Duterte family. He claimed in his affidavit that more than P2 billion was delivered to Vice President Duterte, while separate amounts were allegedly given to former President Rodrigo Duterte and Rep. Paolo Duterte.
The NBI continues to validate Gracioso’s allegations, including his claimed ties to the Velascos and the assets and locations mentioned in his affidavit. The bureau recently said it had validated two properties identified in Gracioso’s allegations as allegedly owned by the Velascos.
Matibag said the investigation will proceed by examining the competing claims and documentary evidence before the NBI reaches conclusions on the allegations.
