The legal camp of Vice President Sara Duterte is considering filing perjury and libel complaints against dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. over his allegations that he delivered billions of pesos in cash to Duterte and members of her family.
According to the report of RH Jecelle Ricafort, Duterte’s lawyer, Atty. Clifford Chua, made the statement on Thursday after submitting the Vice President’s sworn affidavit and supporting evidence to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Duterte did not personally appear at the bureau, with Chua saying her legal team made a “special appearance” on her behalf.
“Sa nakikita ko ngayon, puwedeng kasuhan ng perjury or libel si Gracioso. Pwede. Pero depende pa rin po ‘yan sa ating Vice President,” Chua said.
Chua said Duterte’s camp believes there are grounds for possible legal action, citing what he described as inconsistencies and alleged falsehoods in Gracioso’s statements when compared with Duterte’s affidavit and the affidavit of former Davao City information officer Jefry Tupas.
“Marami kasing kasinungalingan doon,” Chua said, adding that the alleged discrepancies should be evaluated by the NBI and the parties involved.
Gracioso, a former security aide of ex-House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, has alleged that he delivered suitcases containing more than P2 billion to Duterte, P1 billion to former President Rodrigo Duterte, and P100 million to Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, supposedly upon the instructions of Velasco and his wife.
Duterte has repeatedly denied the allegations and earlier said she expected the NBI to pursue a perjury case if its investigation and evaluation of the evidence establish that Gracioso’s statements were false.
Chua also said a possible lie detector test involving Duterte and Gracioso would depend on the two parties and the NBI.
Duterte previously expressed willingness to undergo a polygraph examination but challenged Gracioso to make the results of his own test public first. NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said Gracioso underwent a lie detector test and reportedly registered a 99% truthfulness result, although the NBI is still evaluating the allegations and submitted evidence.
Chua said Duterte’s camp also wants witnesses or members of the media present if Gracioso undergoes another polygraph examination to help establish the circumstances surrounding the test.
Meanwhile, the NBI said it would review Duterte’s affidavit and subject the photographs and other evidence submitted by her camp to authentication and verification.
Velasco’s camp has separately denied Gracioso’s allegations, describing them as fabricated and without basis.
