Former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena, have been in Japan for about a month, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Thursday.
Remulla said the couple is currently in Japan after leaving the Philippines on August 30.
“Sa ngayon ang whereabouts niya ay nasa Japan… Pinakamahal, pangmayayaman na [village] doon…Nandoon sila ngayon mag-asawa,” Remulla said in an interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
“Isang buwan na sila doon... Nakakaamoy na yata ng gulo, sibat na,” he added.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) earlier confirmed that Velasco is currently out of the country but declined to disclose further details about his travel records due to data privacy rules.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag previously said Velasco left for Japan on August 30 and was supposed to return on September 14 but had not returned to the Philippines.
The development came as the NBI investigates allegations made by Velasco’s former security aide, dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
Gracioso alleged in his sworn statement that he delivered suitcases containing cash to members of the Duterte family upon Velasco’s instructions.
He claimed to have delivered more than ₱2 billion to Vice President Sara Duterte in more than 20 instances.
The NBI said it is verifying Gracioso’s allegations and examining evidence he submitted, including photographs and details in his affidavit. Matibag also clarified that while Gracioso passed a polygraph test concerning his identity and links to the people he named, the test did not establish the truth of his specific allegations.
The NBI has invited Velasco and his wife to appear before the bureau on October 5 to respond to Gracioso’s allegations. The Vice President and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte have likewise been invited to provide information in the ongoing investigation.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has separately confirmed that Gracioso had been detailed as a security officer or staff member of Velasco.
Velasco’s camp has denied Gracioso’s allegations, describing them as "fabricated attacks."
Meawhile, VP Sara has also denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him.
