Jefry Tupas, a former aide of Vice President Sara Duterte, disputed ex-cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.’s allegations, saying he was abroad on the dates Gracioso claimed he was present for cash deliveries to Duterte.
In an affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation, Tupas said he was surprised to be dragged into Gracioso’s story.
But Tupas contended the narrative of Gracioso, an ex-security aide of former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, does not add up.
He cited Gracioso’s statement that one of the deliveries was made during the Holy Week in Marinduque in April 2019. No specific date was mentioned.
Gracioso said Duterte told him to give the suitcases of cash and kakanin to Tupas, and he complied.
But Tupas said he was out of the country from the early morning of April 18 up to April 21, 2019, because he was on vacation in Korea. He has the documents to prove it.
Another claim he called out was the alleged September 21, 2019 cash delivery to Duterte during the baptism of Velasco’s daughter, where Duterte allegedly told Gracioso to give the suitcases to Tupas.
Tupas said he was in Japan from September 19 to 22, 2019, so he could not have been at the Diamond Hotel.
As for a supposed delivery in Busay, Cebu in the summer of 2020, he said he and Duterte were only in Davao City during the time because of the strict requirements of the city government restricting inbound and outbound domestic air travels.
He also said it is difficult to respond to Gracioso’s other cash delivery allegations due to a lack of specific details.
“Ang masasabi ko ay puro ito KATHANG ISIP at PAWANG KASINUNGALINGAN LAMANG. Kahit kelan, walang nangyari na may tinanggap ako na maleta ng pera, regalo o sasakyan para kay Sara Z. Duterte,” he added.
He also said that if Gracioso was a former aide of Velasco, there may be occasions when they were in the same place.
But even if he and Gracioso may have photos together, it does not mean they know each other.
“Hindi naman siguro maikakaila na sa lahat ng pinupuntahan ni Ms. Sara Z. Duterte ay maraming mga tao ang nagnanais na magpakuha ng larawan o ‘selfie’ na kasama sya,” he said.
Tupas said it was laughable to claim that he received the large suitcases full of money because he has a thin frame and usually wears high heels.
“Kaya, sa totoo lang, siguro ay makakadapa-dapa ako kung susubukan kong magbuhat ng dalawang maleta na puno, diumano, ng 50 Million Pesos bawat isa,” he added.
He also said he has never even been to Velasco’s home, and that as far as he knows, Duterte did not have a staff member or aide named Bryan, contrary to Gracioso’s statement.
Gracioso alleged that upon Velasco’s orders, he delivered some P2 billion in cash to Vice President Duterte, P1 billion to former President Rodrigo Duterte, and P100 million to Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.