NBI to invite VP Sara, Pulong Duterte, others amid Gracioso cash delivery claims

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will invite Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte to get their comment on the claims of cash delivery by former Police Patrolman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., director Melvin Matibag said Monday.

Matibag said the NBI will also invite former House speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Velasco’s wife.

“Part of the investigation is also to invite the personalities mentioned in the affidavit. It should not be a subpoena but it should be an invitation, especially to the Vice President,” he said in an ambush interview.

“Sinasabi niya hindi niya kilala ‘yung tao at gusto niya mag kaso. Magbigay kami ng kopya ng affidavits. Just to tell you, ang affidavit po hindi pagaari ng NBI ‘yan… we’ll ask the consent that we will release it. So ‘yung mga pictures ipapakita rin natin, ibibigay natin kay Vice President para siya na mismo magsabi,” he added.

(She says she does not know the person and wants to file a case. We will provide copies of the affidavits. Just to tell you, the affidavit does not belong to the NBI… we’ll ask for consent that we will release it. So we will also show the pictures, we will give them to the Vice President so that she herself can say.)

Gracioso previously claimed that he delivered suitcases containing cash to Vice President Duterte, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and Paolo Duterte on Velasco’s instructions.

Earlier, Gracioso submitted photos and videos to the NBI.

According to Matibag, the NBI invited Gracioso and Father Flavie Villanueva to get their statements on his claims.

Meanwhile, Matibag said Gracioso submitted himself to a lie detector test before he issued his sworn affidavit.

“Doon sa naging question noon is limited to his identity, relationship sa binabanggit niyang mga tao. So ‘yun ang sinasabi natin na pinasa niya ng 99% ‘yung kanyang test na ‘yun,” he said.

(The question then was limited to his identity and relationship to the people he mentioned. So that is why we are saying that he passed 99% of that test.)

“But now since meron siyang affidavit, we want to ask him ‘yung questions based on the affidavit. Lahat na ‘yun. Mahabang proseso ng pag lie detector test ‘yan. So pumayag naman siya. He’s very much willing and we will schedule it anytime this week,” he added.

(But now, since he has an affidavit, we want to ask him the questions based on the affidavit. All of them. It is a lengthy process for a lie detector test. So he agreed. He’s very much willing, and we will schedule it anytime this week.)

Matibag also said that the NBI cannot discount Gracioso’s whole testimony due to his dismissal from service.

The PNP previously confirmed that Gracioso was dismissed from the service on September 11 this year.

The PNP had suspended Gracioso thrice before dismissing him from service.

“Sapagkat kung hindi totoo ‘yung sinasabi niya, he can be answereable for perjury. So may krimen pa rin nangyari. Kung totoo naman ‘yung sinasabi niya, meron tayong mas malalim na tinitignan,” he said.

(Because if what he is saying is not true, he can be answerable for perjury. So a crime still occurred. If what he is saying is true, we have something deeper to look into.)

For his part, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said there is a chance that the issue might reach the Office of the Ombudsman. He said they will monitor the situation for now.

“Kung meron kaming maaring gawin diyan sa pag iimbestiga, gagawin namin sa tamang panahon,” he said.

(If there is anything we can do in investigating that, we will do it at the proper time.) — RSJ, GMA News