NBI to coordinate with BI for Velasco's whereabouts

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said it will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to determine the whereabouts of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said immigration records show that Velasco traveled to Japan.

“Well, as far as the records of Immigration, ang kanya pong records nagsabi na sa Japan nagtungo. Sa ngayon po kasi siya hindi naman isang government official,” he said.

(Well, as far as the records of Immigration, his records say that he went to Japan. At the moment, he is not a government official.)

“Kaya medyo mas ang ating pag-verify niyan sa private citizen ay sa BI lamang po. So tingnan po natin at ipapa-check natin sa Immigration kung meron pong mga naging connecting flight or umalis po or kung nasa Japan pa rin po,” he added.

(So our verification for private citizens is through BI only. So let's see and have Immigration check if there were any connecting flights or if he left or if he is still in Japan.)

The BI said last September 29 that Velasco was out of the country, saying there is no derogatory record preventing his departure from the country.

It also said that there is no existing hold departure order against Velasco.

Velasco's former security aide Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. earlier claimed that he delivered suitcases containing over P2 billion in cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, her father former President Rodrigo Duterte, and her brother Davao City Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte.

The ex-cop said he was ordered by Velasco.

Velasco’s camp however said that the allegations have “no basis” and are “fabricated attacks” against him.

"The former Speaker of the House's record of service in the government is untainted with corruption and his wife's benevolence is widely known, leaving no basis for the illegal allegations now being suggested," said Velasco's spokesperson, Atty. Rowell Ilagan in a statement.

Velasco's camp also called the accusations against the former speaker as "inconsistent."

Ilagan, who appeared before the NBI on Monday to answer its invite to Velasco, said they will answer all the allegations against the former House speaker once they have reviewed the documents, adding that they only formally received the affidavit of Gracioso that day.

For her part, VP Sara said she does not know Gracioso and did not receive money from him.

The vice president, in a press conference on Tuesday, denied the allegation and said Gracioso was motivated by money and resentment towards Velasco and his family.

According to the vice president, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his administration are behind the allegations against her.

Malacañang on Tuesday however said that if VP Sara Duterte answered allegations against her "clearly," then perhaps there would be no impeachment trial.

Duterte's camp has yet to provide evidence to counter Gracioso's claims, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

Matibag on Tuesday said Sara Duterte's denial of allegations made by Gracioso should be formally submitted under oath.

Former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said the claim that suitcases containing cash were delivered to the Duterte family is a “fabricated story” to oust and disqualify VP Sara Duterte in the 2028 elections. —KG, GMA News