The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has positively identified two properties in Valle Verde 2, Pasig City as allegedly owned by former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena, as part of its ongoing probe into claims of so-called “cash houses.”
According to the report of DZRH's Jecelle Ricafort, NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the two properties, located along Champaca Street and Sampaguita Street, were among the seven alleged “cash houses” identified by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claimed to have previously served as a security aide of Velasco.
According to Matibag, the NBI established the properties’ connection to the Velasco couple through its investigation of ownership records.
“Based on dun sa relationship at saka mga properties na ini-establish, especially to the cash houses, we're able to validate that dun sa Valle Verde, at least yung Champaca and Sampaguita Street is positively identified na pag-aari ng mga Velasco,” Matibag said.
The two houses were among properties raided by the NBI in August following intelligence reports that illegal high-powered firearms were allegedly being kept there.
Matibag said Gracioso claimed he had personally entered the two properties and described them as places where money was allegedly stored. The NBI is continuing to verify these claims and determine the circumstances surrounding the acquisition and ownership of the properties.
The NBI is also investigating two resorts in Torrijos, Marinduque that were allegedly linked to the Velasco couple — Sara Resort and Cabanas and Amara Resort & Villas.
Matibag said records obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed corporate links between the properties and the Velascos. He said Sara Resort and Cabanas is operated by 888 Wealth Star Corp., with Rowena Velasco identified as its president and chairman and holding a majority stake.
The NBI also identified the Velascos as principal incorporators and majority shareholders of Amara Resort & Villas. Matibag said some of the original shareholdings were later transferred to third parties in 2023, although Rowena Velasco allegedly remains a stockholder and serves as vice president.
Matibag questioned the declared capitalization of Amara Resort, which he said was incorporated in 2018 with stated capital of around P672,000, despite the apparent scale and value of the property.
“Ang pera nito nakalagay is ₱672,000. But if you will look at it, yung value niya is more than ₱672,000,” Matibag said.
The NBI chief said investigators are now examining corporate and financial records to determine how the properties were acquired, who the other owners are and where the funds used for the investments came from.
“We will continue to investigate based on the records ng mga ownership, corporate interest, yung mga links nito,” Matibag said.
The bureau will examine documents from the SEC, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and other relevant records as part of the fact-finding investigation.
Matibag said the NBI will also validate the other allegations made by Gracioso, including claims concerning alleged financial transactions involving members of the Duterte family.
Gracioso has alleged that the Velasco couple acquired properties while Velasco was still in office and claimed that large amounts of money were allegedly delivered to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.
The NBI has not made a final finding on these allegations, with Matibag stressing that the investigation remains ongoing and that authorities still need to establish the source of funds and the circumstances behind the acquisition of the properties.
The probe is expected to focus on whether the properties and corporate interests identified by the NBI can be traced to legitimate sources of funds and whether the other allegations raised by Gracioso can be independently substantiated.
