Gracioso takes 2nd lie detector test at NBI

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Dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. took a lie detector test before the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday, September 30.

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Gracioso voluntarily took the test, which was his second with the NBI.

Matibag said the process took three hours, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The NBI is investigating claims Gracioso made in an affidavit that he delivered bags of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte while he was a security aide to former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Officials mentioned in Gracioso's affidavit have denied his allegations.

Matibag has said Gracioso approached the bureau with the help of Father Flavie Villanueva, a priest known for assisting families of victims of the Duterte administration’s drug war.

He said the NBI had checked Gracioso’s background and was examining his claims through interviews and other investigative means.

Matibag also cited the first polygraph test administered to Gracioso.

“Ang masasabi ko nga, based on the test that we ran, which is the polygraph test, 99% yung truthfulness ng kanyang mga statements.” (Based on the polygraph test we ran, I would say there was 99% truthfulness in his statements.)

The Supreme Court in People v. Adoviso held that lie detector test results are not admissible as evidence in court to prove the guilt or innocence of an accused in criminal cases.

This is due to a lack of scientific acceptance.

“However, polygraph tests when offered in evidence for the purpose of establishing the guilt or innocence of one accused of a crime, whether the accused or the prosecution seeks its introduction, for the reason that polygraph has not as yet attained scientific acceptance as a reliable and accurate means of ascertaining truth or deception,” the SC said.

For the SC, lie detector test results are not conclusive.

“While the Court held that the results of a polygraph test cannot be offered in evidence to prove the guilt or innocence of an accused in a crime, it does not mean that it has no weight at all,” it said.

“The results of the polygraph test may be used in conjunction with other corroborative evidence to prove an allegation made by a party,” it added. —NB, GMA News