Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte filed a libel and cyber libel complaint against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., and GMA Network executives and journalists before the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office on Oct. 23.
The complaint names GMA Network Chairman Felipe Gozon, President and CEO Gilberto Duavit Jr., broadcasters Mel Tiangco, Vicki Morales and Emil Sumangil, as well as Darlene Cay, Marvin Parado and Joel San Luis, along with unidentified John and Jane Does.
The filing comes amid a separate NBI investigation involving Gracioso, a former security aide of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who claimed to have delivered suitcases containing large sums of cash to members of the Duterte family between 2018 and 2021.
In an exclusive interview with GMA News on Sept. 25, Gracioso alleged that the deliveries were made on Velasco’s instructions and involved Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rody Duterte and Paolo Duterte. He claimed that the amounts included more than ₱2 billion for the Vice President, ₱1 billion for the former president and ₱100 million for Paolo Duterte. These claims—also included in his affidavit—have been denied by the Duterte family and disputed by Velasco’s camp.
On Sept. 28, Matibag announced that the NBI would examine Gracioso’s testimony and supporting materials. The bureau acknowledged that the former police officer’s statements, photographs and other evidence required authentication and verification.
On Oct. 12, Matibag presented photographs and videos of properties the NBI was investigating for possible connections to the Duterte family. Among them was a property on Samal Island that the NBI director suggested was linked to Paolo Duterte.
Duterte challenged Matibag to produce ownership records and other documentary evidence. He also questioned the NBI director’s credibility, saying the former President Duterte had previously raised concerns about him, and urged the agency to examine alleged ghost flood control projects involving the district of Matibag’s wife, Laguna First District Rep. Ann Matibag.
Meanwhile, Casas Con Vistas Resort in Samal denied any ownership connection to Paolo Duterte on Oct. 14, saying its owners were private citizens with no affiliation to public officials. Matibag subsequently clarified that the NBI had been referring to a neighboring property, not Casas Con Vistas itself.
Paolo Duterte also rejected Gracioso’s account as “pure fiction” and a “fairy-tale lie.” Vice President Sara Duterte separately denied receiving money from Gracioso and disputed the NBI’s claims concerning properties allegedly connected to her family.
