Former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco left the Philippines on Aug. 30 and has yet to return amid allegations that he made cash deliveries to members of the Duterte family, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said Tuesday.
Speaking on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Matibag said the NBI had checked immigration records after former policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who was previously detailed to Velasco, offered testimony alleging that he delivered billions of pesos in cash to members of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s family upon the former speaker’s instructions.
Matibag said the NBI plans to invite Velasco and his wife, Rowena, to hear their side of the allegations.
“Gusto nating imbitahan yung mga taong binanggit. Gusto po nating marinig yung kumbaga the side of their story,” Matibag said.
He said the NBI also wants to clarify circumstances surrounding photos and videos that allegedly showed Gracioso with Velasco, noting that Philippine National Police (PNP) had confirmed that Gracioso was detailed to the former speaker.
Matibag said Velasco has not denied that Gracioso was assigned to him but has generally denied the allegations.
The NBI chief said Gracioso had already undergone a lie detector test and agreed to take another one after the bureau reviewed his publicly released statement.
Matibag said the second test is expected to be conducted Wednesday or Thursday. He added that lie detector examinations are voluntary and require the consent of the person being tested.
The NBI also checked immigration records concerning the whereabouts of Velasco and his wife.
According to Matibag, initial information showed that Velasco left the country on Aug. 30 and was supposed to return on Sept. 14 but had not recorded a return as of Monday.
Rowena Velasco, meanwhile, reportedly left the Philippines on Sept. 24 for Hong Kong and was expected to return on Sept. 27, Matibag said.
He added that the NBI is continuing to monitor the couple’s travel records and plans to invite them to voluntarily appear before the bureau.
Watch the full interview below:
