Paolo Duterte seeks Matibag inhibition from probe into Gracioso allegations

Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and its director Melvin Matibag to recuse themselves from investigating allegations made by Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., according to the agency.

Based on the November 10 letter obtained by GMA News’ John Consulta, Duterte’s lawyers asked NBI’s and Matibag’s office for their "voluntary inhibition from the ongoing investigation,” citing three grounds.

“First, the NBI and your office have already taken an ante litem public position on the veracity and truth of the allegations of Mr. Gracioso…Second, our client has been denied a fair chance to be heard.

“Third, your prior public engagement against the Vice President [Sara Duterte] gives rise to a reasonable perception of bias, worse deliberate effort to trash and destroy her unsullied good character and reputation,” they said.

Matibag rejected the request, saying it had no legal basis.

In a statement on Thursday, Matibag said the concept of inhibition and "cold neutrality" invoked by the congressman’s counsel applies to those tasked with making judgments, not to investigators.

"The NBI does not judge. It establishes facts," Matibag said. "The law gives the Bureau the authority to investigate, and no law requires it to set that authority aside."

He said determining probable cause is the responsibility of the prosecutor or the Office of the Ombudsman, adding that Duterte would have the opportunity to answer the allegations if the matter reaches that stage.

Gracioso, an ex-security aide to former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, claimed that he delivered suitcases containing over P2 billion in cash to Sara, Paolo and their father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Paolo’s lawyers also said the NBI did not furnish them a copy of Gracioso’s affidavit before it was publicized on September 25.

Matibag maintained that Paolo had not been deprived of his rights, saying the lawmaker received Gracioso's affidavit on October 5 and that the NBI's invitation for him to give his side remained open.

The formal opportunity to answer the evidence would come during the preliminary investigation, he added.

Regarding his three columns against Paolo’s sister Vice President Sara Duterte, Matibag said these were written in 2024 before he became an NBI director. — BM, GMA News

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