VP Sara disputes Gracioso claim she was in Marinduque during Holy Week 2019
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday presented photographs and other materials that she said showed she was not in Marinduque during Holy Week in 2019, disputing an allegation made by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
“Hindi totoong pumunta ako sa Marinduque noong Mahal na Araw ng 2019,” Duterte said as she addressed portions of Gracioso’s sworn affidavit.
Gracioso had alleged that Duterte and her former aide Jefry Tupas traveled to Marinduque during Holy Week that year in connection with activities involving then-House speaker Lord Allan Velasco. He has also alleged that he delivered suitcases of cash to Duterte and other individuals. Duterte has denied receiving money from Gracioso.
Duterte said the photographs she presented formed part of evidence contradicting Gracioso’s account of her whereabouts. Her camp earlier said it had identified 29 statements in Gracioso’s affidavit that it believes are false, including the claim that Duterte and Tupas were in Marinduque during Holy Week in 2019.
Tupas has separately denied Gracioso’s account, saying he had never been to Marinduque and was outside the Philippines during the period cited in the affidavit. Travel records he submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation reportedly showed that he left the country on April 18, 2019 and returned on April 22.
The NBI and Department of Justice are continuing to evaluate Gracioso’s allegations and the counter-evidence submitted by those he implicated.
