Palace rebukes Vice President Duterte, demands evidence over corruption claims

Malacañang responded to Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the administration is desperate to bring her down by demanding she present evidence for the accusations against her. Press Undersecretary Claire Castro sent a Viber note to reporters, urging Duterte to avoid logical fallacies such as red-herring and ad hominem in her defenses. Duterte had previously rejected allegations that she accepted money from ex-policeman Rodolfo Gracioso Jr., labeling the claims a media stunt tied to a stalled impeachment effort.

Gracioso alleged he delivered suitcases of cash worth more than P2 billion to Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Representative Paolo Duterte on Velasco’s orders. Velasco’s spokesperson Rowell Ilagan called the accusations baseless, and the National Bureau of Investigation has begun investigating Gracioso’s claims.