Velascos no-show at NBI; lawyer confirms ex-Speaker knows Gracioso

MANILA, Philippines — Former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena, failed to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to comply with the invitation letters sent to them over the “cash delivery” claims of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.

Instead, the Velasco couple were only represented by their three legal counsels, who arrived at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City around 9:45 a.m.

VELASCOS NO-SHOW AT NBIWATCH: Three lawyers of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife Rowena arrive at the NBI to represent them in complying with their invitation letters over the “cash delivery” claims of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. pic.twitter.com/aJtV7utP1Y

— MJ Salcedo (@MJSalcedoINQ) October 5, 2026

In an ambush interview, one of the counsels, Atty. Rowell Ilagan said that aside from complying with the invitation letters, they appeared at the NBI to formally request the copy of Gracioso’s affidavit implicating his clients. 

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He reiterated the camp’s denial of Gracioso’s allegations, noting that information circulated on social media is “easy to fabricate.”

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‘Velasco knows Gracioso’

Ilagan did not confirm that Gracioso became Velasco’s aide but affirmed that the former House speaker knows him.

“Kilala po. Pero hindi po natin masabi kung ano po yung pagkakilala niya,” the lawyer said when asked by reporters.

(He knows him. But we cannot say what his relationship was.)

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READ: Ex-cop appears before NBI over alleged ‘cash delivery’ to Dutertes

He refused to answer media queries regarding the Velasco couple’s whereabouts abroad but asserted that they are free to travel as “they are private individuals.”

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“Parang mali po yung isipin na parang tumakas sila? Mali po yung isipin. As private citizens, we can freely travel. That is one of our constitutional rights as an individual,” Ilagan said.

(It could be wrong to think that they escaped. It’s wrong to think that. As private citizens, we can freely travel. That is one of our constitutional rights as individuals.)

He also said that they would answer other allegations against his clients “at the proper forum and at the proper time.”

The lawyer said the NBI has not yet set another schedule for their client.

The Bureau of Immigration and NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed last week that Velasco is currently out of the country.

 According to Matibag, the former House Speaker left the country for Nagoya, Japan, on August 30. He was supposed to be back on September 14, but based on the BI records, he still has not returned.

Meanwhile, Velasco’s wife, along with two individuals, traveled to Hong Kong on September 24. She was supposed to return on September 27, but until now, there is no record of such.

READ: NBI: Velasco, wife currently out of the country

Aside from the Velascos, supposedly invited to appear this Monday are Vice President Sara Duterte and her brother, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte.

Vice President Duterte’s camp earlier wrote to the NBI, requesting to move to another date for its investigative conference on Gracioso’s “cash delivery” allegations. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Duterte has yet to arrive at the bureau and did not confirm if he will comply with the invitation or not.

Gracioso is claiming to have delivered more than P2 billion to the vice president, P1 billion to the former president, and P100 million to the congressman in tranches starting in 2018 upon Velasco’s instructions.

He underwent another lie detector test last Wednesday, and the NBI said the result showed “no deception indicated.”

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The vice president earlier denied the former police officer’s claims, emphasizing that she does not know him. /jpv