Former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena, did not personally appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday, October 5, in connection with allegations raised by Velasco’s former security aide, dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
Instead, the couple sent three lawyers to the bureau, including Atty. Rowell Ilagan. The legal counsels declined to confirm whether the Velascos remain in Japan, RH 15 Jecelle Ricafort reported.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said the bureau had yet to receive information that the couple had returned to the Philippines. He said the NBI was coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to monitor their entry into the country.
“Wala pa kaming balita at we are in constant coordination with the Bureau of Immigration at wala pa naman ang pasabi na may entry o pabalik ang mag-asawa,” Matibag said in an interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos on Monday.
According to Matibag, the latest information received by the NBI placed the couple in Niseko, Japan.
“Yun po yung huling information na pumasok po sa amin,” he said.
Matibag also said the NBI had no information that the Velascos had already left Japan or were planning to travel to the United States.
The NBI invited the Velasco couple, along with Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, to provide information regarding Gracioso’s allegations.
Gracioso, who was previously part of Velasco’s security detail, claimed in his sworn statement that he delivered suitcases containing cash to members of the Duterte family on Velasco’s instructions. He alleged that the deliveries totaled more than ₱2 billion.
The NBI has stressed that the allegations remain under investigation and that the personalities named in Gracioso’s affidavit are being given an opportunity to respond. The bureau has also been verifying the evidence submitted by Gracioso.
The Bureau of Immigration earlier confirmed that Velasco left the Philippines on August 30 and was expected to return on September 14 but had not done so. Rowena Velasco reportedly left the country on September 24.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp has requested that her NBI conference be moved to October 8, saying her lawyers need a copy of Gracioso’s sworn statement and supporting documents before she responds to the allegations.
Velasco’s camp has previously denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and fabricated.
