MANILA, Philippines — Allegations that suitcases packed with cash were handed over to members of the Duterte family are a completely manufactured scheme intended to derail the political standing of Vice President Sara Duterte, former Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo asserted on Sunday, September 27.
Panelo strongly rejected the assertions made by ousted police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who alleged that he personally handed cash-filled luggage to Vice President Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte under directions from former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Gracioso previously acted as a security detail for Velasco.
”The Gracioso concoction is obviously another fabricated story, pure and simple black propaganda, just like the Madriaga affidavit,” Panelo stated.
The former legal adviser warned that political opponents are relentlessly attempting to neutralize the Vice President’s future political prospects.
”The brains behind the ouster and disqualification of VP Sara in the 2028 presidential elections will stop at nothing in order to succeed in their devious plan of obliterating her from the political landscape and from the face of the earth,” he added.
Meanwhile, representatives for former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco vehemently denied the accusations, calling them baseless attacks designed to target multiple figures through flawed assertions.
”The former Speaker of the House’s record of service in the government is untainted with corruption and his wife’s benevolence is widely known, leaving no basis for the illegal allegations now being suggested,” said Velasco’s spokesperson, Atty. Rowell Ilagan.
Velasco’s legal team further questioned the logic and timeline of Gracioso’s claims, pointing out major factual inconsistencies.
”The ‘one-size-fits-all’ narration by this individual seems to be designed and fabricated to attack as many targets as it can while being inconsistent with verifiable events, that is, the COVID-19 pandemic, Velasco’s period of service as speaker, other details, and even basic common sense,” Ilagan said.
”We respectfully urge everyone to be more circumspect in appreciating this news report while we evaluate and determine the accountability of the individual and the publisher under the law,” Ilagan added, noting that their camp is reviewing potential legal actions against those responsible for propagating the claims.