NBI plans to quiz VP, ex-Speaker Velasco about alleged bagman

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation will invite Vice President Sara Duterte, former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and other people implicated by a dismissed policeman in a series of alleged cash deliveries that supposedly benefited members of the Duterte family.

This was announced by NBI Director Melvin Matibag on Monday after former Police Cpl. Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., whom the Philippine National Police had confirmed to be a former security aide of Velasco, appeared before the bureau for questioning on his affidavit alleging that he made separate deliveries of suitcases, containing a total of P2 billion, to the Vice President.

Gracioso also claimed that he delivered P1 billion to the Vice President’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and P100 million to her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, in tranches. The deliveries were allegedly made starting in 2018.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Gracioso sought priest’s help over alleged Duterte cash deliveries

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

“What we will do is to invite the Vice President—invite, not subpoena—for her to share or say anything in relation to what Gracioso presented,” Matibag said. “And the individuals mentioned there, we are also thinking of inviting them.”

Duterte had denied Gracioso’s allegations, stressing that she did not know him.She also described Garcioso’s allegations as a mere “media stunt” intended to “breathe life into a faltering impeachment case.”

Accompanied by priest

“The desperation of the administration to bring me down, push for Charter change (Cha-cha), prevent the 2028 elections, and cling to power is becoming increasingly diabolical,” Duterte said.

READ: Claims of ex-cop vs the Dutertes may be elevated to Ombudsman

Article continues after this advertisement

In an interview with reporters after appearing at the NBI, Gracioso presented what he called “evidence,” including photos of himself with the Vice President that he submitted to the bureau.

Gracioso was accompanied by Catholic priest Flavie Villanueva, whom he asked for help in exposing the supposed cash deliveries.

Article continues after this advertisement

In a telephone interview on Monday, Villanueva said Gracioso went to his house in Metro Manila on the night of March 26 to seek his help in exposing the alleged cash deliveries to the Dutertes, supposedly on the instructions of Velasco.

“Prior to that, he consulted with his two godfathers, who are also priests, on how to reach me,” said Villanueva, a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient who has been helping families of drug war victims. He said the former police officer also showed him photographs of his supposed evidence about his allegations.

“Human as I am, there were some doubts. But when I listened to him and saw some photos, the first thing I established was that there was truth because they were friends; their proximity, as shown in the photos of him and his principals, was not by chance. So that’s where the journey began,” he said.

In a separate interview with the Inquirer, the priest said Gracioso first went to the NBI to seek help around June this year.

Alleged talks with Velasco

In a Viber message to the Inquirer, Matibag said the bureau began its formal investigation this month, since investigators first checked the information that Gracioso had provided.

Asked why he only showed up now, Gracioso said it was because Velasco did not help him financially when his father got sick.

Gracioso also said he communicated with Velasco regarding his plan to supposedly expose the delivery of cash, but “he didn’t say anything.”

Matibag said Gracioso, who was dismissed from the police service on Sept. 11 over an administrative case, initially underwent a lie-detector test regarding his identity, and the result turned out to be “99-percent accurate.”

‘Buwaon’

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the police would investigate Gracioso’s background, acknowledging the political sensitivity of the allegations and the possibility that the issue could be used to heighten tensions.

“But we will take all of his statements with all seriousness, so we can determine the truth,” said Remulla.

“[Gracioso] has gone under the witness protection program, right? The DOJ (Department of Justice) will assess whether he is worthy or not of witness protection,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Malacanang has pushed back against Duterte’s accusation that the latest allegation against her was the Marcos administration’s way to stay in power beyond 2028.

“This is exactly the President’s message on the Vice President’s comment: This is nonsense, fake news, congenital liar, ‘buwaon,’” Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Monday, citing her phone call with President Marcos.

“Buwaon” is a Waray word for liar.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

“We cannot simply disregard all these lies coming from an obstructionist, from a destabilizer,” she added. —With reports from Andrea Gregorio and Dexter Cabalza