Sara Duterte won't attend NBI conference on Oct. 5, asks for Gracioso affidavit first - GMA Network

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday said she will not be able to attend the conference set by the National Bureau of Investigation on October 5 regarding the allegations made by former cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.

In a letter addressed to NBI Director Melvin Matibag dated October 1, a copy of which was provided by Duterte’s camp to the media, the vice president’s lawyers requested first for a copy of Gracioso’s affidavit and enough time to examine it.

“In your letter, you mention an ongoing investigation into ‘allegations’ made by a certain Mr. Rodulfo M. Gracioso, Jr., and request for our client's statements, documents, and record that may help clarify the ‘issues at hand’. However, while your letter mentions an attached copy of Mr. Gracioso's Sinumpaang Salaysay, none was attached thereto. Consequently, our client cannot provide any meaningful reply to your request at this time,” the letter read.

“In this regard, we respectfully request your good office for a clear and faithful copy of Mr. Gracioso's Sinumpaang Salaysay, all attachments thereto, and supporting evidence submitted by him, if any. This will enable our client to intelligently prepare a reply thereto and/or take other appropriate action thereon,” the lawyers said.

“With the foregoing, neither our client nor counsel can appear on your appointed date of 05 October 2026, at 10:00 AM. Instead, we respectfully request that sufficient time be given our client and counsel to examine the Sinumpaang Salaysay and all accompanying documents to be provided her. Assuming our timely receipt of the requested documents, we request that your sought conference be moved instead to 08 October 2026, at 10:00 AM,” they added.

The letter was signed by Duterte’s counsels Clifford Chua, Paul Lawrence Lim, Kimberly Resurreccion who are all with the law firm Chua Lim and Associates.

Duterte also signed the letter signifying her conformity to what was written.

Dismissed policeman Gracioso, who was part of the security detail of former House speaker Lord Allan Velasco before, earlier said that he delivered suitcases containing cash to VP Sara Duterte, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Velasco’s instructions.

Gracioso estimated that he had delivered a total of more than P2 billion to Sara Duterte.

The NBI said it is investigating the claims of Gracioso.

Matibag also said the NBI will invite VP Sara, Pulong Duterte, Velasco, and Velasco’s wife to get their comment on the claims of cash delivery by Gracioso.

VP Sara Duterte however has said that she does not know Gracioso, and she did not receive any money from him.

"Mga kababayan (My countrymen), 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.

Velasco’s camp also said the allegations against him had “no basis.”

Former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo meanwhile said the claim that suitcases containing cash were delivered to the Duterte family is a “fabricated story” to oust and disqualify VP Sara Duterte in the 2028 elections.

“The Gracioso concoction is obviously another fabricated story, pure and simple black propaganda, just like the Madriaga affidavit,” Panelo said in a statement. —KG, GMA News