THE House of Representatives impeachment prosecution panel is set to seek an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman into allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte received more than P2 billion in cash-filled suitcases
Impeachment trial spokesperson and adviser Ace Barbers said the allegations should be examined by the proper government agency, even if they may no longer be included as part of the ongoing impeachment trial against Duterte.
‘We will probably seek the intervention of the appropriate agency. In this case, this is the Ombudsman, who has to conduct the investigation and file the charges if it merits the filing of such charges against the respondent,’ Barbers said in an interview over the weekend.
The House prosecution panel official said the allegations require serious scrutiny and that an investigation would also provide an opportunity for those accused to respond and clear their names.
‘This should not be ignored. It should be thoroughly investigated so that the truth will come out,’ Barbers said.
The allegation was raised by police Cpl. Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed that he served as the former security head of then-Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. Gracioso alleged that he delivered cash-filled suitcases to Duterte more than 20 times on Velasco’s orders, with the total amount exceeding P2 billion.
Gracioso also claimed that he delivered money to former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is currently reviewing his sworn affidavit and other information submitted to investigators.
Vice President Duterte has denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him. Her lawyers said they are waiting for an official copy of his affidavit from the NBI before pursuing possible legal action.
Barbers said Gracioso’s claim that he had ties to a former House leader known to be close to the Duterte family was among the reasons the allegation should be investigated.
‘The information came from someone who was reportedly trusted by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is known by the public to have been very close to the Duterte family,’ Barbers said.
He also denied that the House prosecution panel had any involvement in Gracioso’s disclosure, saying the information would have been included earlier in the impeachment proceedings if it had been available.
‘We have nothing to do with this. If we had known about this earlier, it should have already been released and included among the Articles of Impeachment or among the issues being pursued,’ Barbers said.
He added that the allegation only surfaced recently because a witness may have decided to come forward and request an investigation.
Barbers acknowledged that the allegation may no longer be introduced as evidence in the impeachment trial because the issues to be discussed were already defined during the pre-trial conference and included in the impeachment court’s trial order.
‘The impeachment court is discussing the matters agreed upon during the pre-trial conference, and the trial order issued by the clerk of court guides the proceedings,’ Barbers said.
Despite this, Barbers maintained that government agencies should still investigate the allegation because of its significance.
Barbers rejected claims from Duterte’s allies that the timing of Gracioso’s disclosure was meant to influence the impeachment proceedings, saying witnesses should be allowed to come forward when they decide to reveal information.