House prosecutors were caught off guard by allegations made by former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. regarding Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, but they plan to review his affidavit and evidence for potential inclusion in her ongoing impeachment trial, according to House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua.
Chua acknowledged that while Gracioso’s claims were unexpected, they surfaced at a relevant moment as the prosecution presents evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth.
“Ang unang-una, ito’y malaking sorpresa para sa amin dahil hindi naman po namin ina-anticipate ’to,” Chua said during a press briefing.
“Bagamat very timely dahil iyong usapin ngayon na Article II ay pwede mong sabihin na pwedeng konektado dito,” he added.
Gracioso, a former security detail for former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, alleged that he transported cash-filled suitcases to Duterte on over 20 occasions under Velasco’s orders, claiming the total amount exceeded P2 billion.
Vice President Duterte has denied the claims, stating she does not know Gracioso and never accepted money from him.
Chua emphasized that prosecutors intend to evaluate and verify the claims thoroughly before determining their relevance to the impeachment proceedings.
“Pero siyempre, itong mga binitawan ni Gracioso, kailangan medyo may pag-iingat at pag-aaral muna,” he said.
The prosecution team plans to review Gracioso’s affidavit, authenticate submitted photographs and supplementary materials, and check for corroborative evidence.
Chua noted that while the team cannot ignore the allegations outright, they will not incorporate them into the trial without proper verification.
The House prosecution is currently submitting evidence concerning Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), business holdings, and financial transactions to substantiate the unexplained wealth charges.