Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte questioned the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) decision to seek his side regarding allegations made by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., asking why investigators still needed his account if they were confident in the results of Gracioso’s lie detector test.
In a social media post on Saturday, October 10, Duterte challenged the NBI’s reported assessment of Gracioso’s credibility, saying the case should stand on its own evidence rather than rely on his response.
“Kung 99.9% legit ang affidavit niya, dapat kayang tumayo ng kaso ninyo sa sarili nitong ebidensiya, hindi sa opinyon ko,” Duterte said.
“If Gracioso is 99.9% credible based on the NBI’s lie detector test, why do you still need my insights?” he asked.
The NBI earlier said it had invited Duterte to shed light on Gracioso’s allegations that he delivered suitcases containing cash to members of the Duterte family.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau was seeking responses from the personalities named in the former police officer’s affidavit as part of its investigation.
CASH DELIVERY ALLEGATIONS
Gracioso alleged in a sworn affidavit that he delivered suitcases filled with money to Vice President Sara Duterte, Paolo Duterte and former president Rodrigo Duterte on the instructions of former House speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
According to previous reports, Gracioso claimed that the deliveries involved billions of pesos and occurred on multiple occasions. He also submitted photographs and videos to the NBI as purported supporting evidence.
The NBI has said the allegations and supporting materials must undergo verification and authentication. The bureau has also examined Gracioso’s background and pursued other investigative measures to assess his claims.
Gracioso underwent a second lie detector test at the NBI on September 30. NBI Director Melvin Matibag subsequently said the examination found no indication of deception in Gracioso’s responses to questions concerning his affidavit.
However, a lie detector test result is not, by itself, proof that the allegations are true. The claims remain subject to the NBI’s investigation and the evaluation of other evidence.
SARA DUTERTE, VELASCO DENY ALLEGATIONS
Vice President Sara Duterte has denied knowing Gracioso and receiving money from him.
In a statement released after the allegations surfaced, the Vice President said she did not know the former police officer and had never received money from him.
Her camp later submitted her sworn affidavit to the NBI on October 8, disputing Gracioso’s claims. Duterte also identified 29 statements in his affidavit that she described as false and said she expected the authorities to consider filing a perjury case if the allegations were proven untrue.
Duterte has also said she is willing to undergo a lie detector test, provided Gracioso’s test results are made public first.
Meanwhile, Velasco’s camp has rejected the allegations against the former House speaker, describing them as having “no basis.”
The NBI has said its invitations are intended to give the individuals named in Gracioso’s affidavit an opportunity to respond.
