EDITORIAL - Proceed with caution

A former policeman has emerged with a story of large-scale corruption involving top incumbent and former government officials.

Former police corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. has executed an affidavit detailing alleged deliveries of billions in cash to Sara Duterte and her brother Paolo during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. The money allegedly came from then House speaker Lord Allan Velasco, for whom Gracioso worked as bodyguard from 2017, becoming the Marinduque congressman’s chief security officer in 2018.

Gracioso approached Father Flaviano Villanueva for help in making public what the policeman claims to know. But even with the priest finding merit in Gracioso going public with his story, the detailed accusations of wrongdoing hurled against the Dutertes are being treated by many with caution and a dose of skepticism.

This is because the nation has heard similar accusations in the previous months, by former bodyguards of other politicians, and against different personalities. And those former bodyguards, most of them former Marines, later retracted their statements.

Will Gracioso stick to his accusations?

Father Flavie said Gracioso, apart from being bothered by his conscience, resented being refused financial help by Velasco when the policeman needed P150,000 for the hospitalization of his father. This led to the father later dying, Gracioso told Father Flavie.

Perhaps the allegations of the former bodyguards of resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co, about regularly delivering suitcases of cash to the homes of former speaker Martin Romualdez, President Marcos himself and son Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos inspired Gracioso to tell his story.

But several of those bodyguard led by the first one, Orly Guteza, have since retracted their statements. Guteza has yet to surface in public since testifying before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Melencio Nartatez confirmed yesterday that Gracioso had been detailed as security officer of Velasco.

The PNP said Gracioso was dismissed from the service last Sept. 15, with the order effective Sept. 11. Gracioso submitted his sworn affidavit to the National Bureau of Investigation on Sept. 14.

PNP records showed he had been suspended from the PNP three times, in March 2024, from October to December 2025 and from Feb. 1 to July 31 this year. In his December 2025 suspension for grave threat, he was also demoted from corporal to patrolman for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Vice President Duterte has denied knowing Gracioso or receiving any money from him, and has vowed to file charges against him. The camp of Velasco, who is abroad with his wife Rowena, also dismissed Gracioso’s story as baseless.

The NBI is scrutinizing Gracioso’s claims. Serious accusations have been hurled, and the nation deserves to know the truth.