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Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday denied ownership of the properties being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that were supposedly linked to her and her family.
In a statement, the Vice President raised concern about the move of the NBI to associate the properties to her, calling it a kind of “public deception.”
“Nakakabahala na ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), na pinopondohan ng taumbayan, ay ginagamit ang kanilang mga operasyon para sa mga gawaing walang malinaw na pakinabang sa publiko,” she said.
(It is alarming that the National Bureau of Investigation, an agency funded by the people, is utilizing its operations for activities that offer no clear public benefit.)
“Ang lote sa larawan na sinabi niyang nasa aking Statement of Assets, Liability, and Net Worth o SALN ay hindi sa akin,” she added.
(The lot shown in the photograph, which was claimed to be listed in my Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, does not belong to me.)
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said that the agency is investigating the properties to follow a pattern supposedly established in the affidavit of dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
To recall, Gracioso had claimed that he delivered cash to the Vice President, Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, and former president Rodrigo Duterte on the instructions of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
The Dutertes have denied the claims of Gracioso. Velasco’s camp also previously said the allegations against him had “no basis.”
Matibag said Gracioso’s affidavit pointed to a pattern of “land banking” among properties linked to the Velasco family, which the NBI was now examining in connection with the Dutertes.
But the Vice President argued that the evidence presented by the NBI was “questionable.”
“Ang ganitong panlilinlang sa publiko ay ang dahilan kung bakit inalis ang NBI sa listahan ng mga testigong ihaharap ng prosekusyon sa impeachment proceedings—dahil sa mga alegasyon na muli na naman silang naglahad ng mga ebidensiyang kuwestiyonable tulad noong Gracioso affidavit,” she said.
(This kind of public deception is the reason why the NBI was removed from the prosecution's list of witnesses for the impeachment proceedings—because of the allegations wherein they presented questionable evidence, much like in Gracioso’s affidavit.)
“Kung pera ng taumbayan ang ginagamit sa pagpapatakbo ng isang ahensiya, nararapat lamang na tiyakin na ang bawat hakbang nito ay naaayon sa batas, nakabatay sa katotohanan, at nagsisilbi sa interes ng sambayanan,” she continued.
(When public funds are used to operate an agency, it is only right to ensure that every action taken is lawful, grounded in truth, and serves the interests of the people.)
The properties that the NBI linked to the Vice President were presented in the impeachment trial on Monday, during the interjection of Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo.—AOL, GMA News