Matibag: It was Tupas who brought out threats to his life, not NBI

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag asserted on Tuesday that it was former Davao City chief information officer Jefry Tupas who actually brought out that there were threats to his life—and not the bureau’s agents.

Matibag said this in response to Tupas’ recent statement, alleging that the NBI “initiated efforts” to bring him to Manila on September 29 after agents who went to his house supposedly offered him security, as they had received a “verifiable threat” that he would be abducted by the Dutertes. 

Tupas, a former aide of Vice President Sara Duterte, is implicated in the “cash delivery” claims of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.

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Gracioso is alleging that he handed over suitcases of money to Tupas for the vice president. 

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READ: NBI validates 2 alleged ‘cash houses’ owned by Velasco in Pasig

According to Matibag, Tupas welcomed the NBI agents who arrived at his North Cotabato residence to invite him to the bureau amid the bureau’s investigation into Gracioso’s claims.

Matibag said Tupas expressed his willingness to cooperate, noting that he even had a coffee with the NBI agents.

“Sa kaniya nanggaling yun na natatakot siya sa buhay niya without saying kung kanino siya natatakot,” Matibag said in an interview with reporters.

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(It came from him that he was afraid for his life without saying who he was afraid of.)

“So noong sinasabi niya na natatakot siya, ang sabi ng ahente, ‘That’s why we’re here.’ We will protect you kung merong threat sa’yo,” he added.

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(So when he said he was afraid, the agent said, that’s why we’re here. We will protect you if there is a threat to you.)

The NBI director also said Tupas committed to going to the NBI headquarters in Pasay City but first requested a subpoena.

“Sabi niya, ‘Gusto ko lang sana may subpoena, baka kasi naman isipin ng aking mga dating kasama na nag-volunteer pa akong pumunta’,” he said.

(He said, ‘I just wish there was a subpoena, because my former companions might think I volunteered to go’.)

But Matibag said he was shocked when Tupas suddenly changed his statements and sent an affidavit responding to Gracioso’s claims, a day after the NBI issued a subpoena to him.

READ: Matibag on Duterte’s reaction to Gracioso’s account: Come, join probe

The NBI director likewise denied Tupas’ statement that he conversed with him over the phone.

“It’s not true na kinusap niya ako na ako mismo nag-inform sa kaniya. Ang kausap ko, yung mga agents on the ground na sabi ko, ‘Make sure that he is safe,’” Matibag said.

(It’s not true that he asked me to inform him myself. I was talking to the agents on the ground and I said, ‘Make sure that he is safe.'”)

‘Problematic timeline?’

Following Matibag’s remark, Tupas’ lawyer Caesar Europa, in a phone interview with reporters, stood by his client’s recent statement that it was really the NBI agents who brought up the alleged threat to his life.

The counsel emphasized that Tupas did not request protective custody from the NBI.

“Nabulagta nga sila noong biglang may dumating doon na nag-offer ng protective custody,” he said.

(They were taken aback when someone suddenly arrived there offering protective custody.)

“Kaya raw sila nag-ooffer ng protective custody kay Jefry kasi meron daw information na may threat na ipapa-abduct siya. At ang pagkakasabi sa akin ni Jefry is ang sabi raw, ang magpapa-abduct sa kaniya ay mga Duterte. Hindi naman naniwala si Jefry na ipapa-abduct siya ng mga Duterte,” he reiterated.

(That’s why they’re offering protective custody to Jefry because there’s information that there’s a threat that he’ll be abducted. And what Jefry told me is that he said the ones who will abduct him are the Dutertes. Jefry didn’t believe that the Dutertes would abduct him.)

The counsel likewise denied that Tupas asked for a subpoena, noting that the document was dated September 28, a day before the NBI agents went to his client’s place.

“Kung si Jefry ang humingi ng subpoena, bakit meron nang subpoena noong 28 pa? Hindi pa sila nag-uusap noon… Medyo may problema tayo sa timeline,” the counsel said.

(If Jefry requested the subpoena, why was there a subpoena on the 28th? They weren’t even talking then… We have a bit of a problem with the timeline.)

Europa likewise said a lawyer who assisted Tupas can attest that he really talked with Matibag over the phone while the NBI agents were at his place.

The legal counsel said he does not know the whereabouts of Tupas, and his last communication with him was on October 2.

On Thursday, October 1, Tupas’ other legal counsel, Toby Diokno, appeared before the NBI to represent him in complying with his subpoena and submit his affidavit.

Tupas denied Gracioso’s allegations, saying that he did not know the dismissed police officer.

Gracioso is claiming to have delivered more than P2 billion to the vice president. P1 billion to former President Rodrigo Duterte, and P100 million to Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte in tranches starting in 2018 upon the instructions of his former boss, former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

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Vice President Duterte and Gracioso also earlier released separate statements, denying Gracioso’s allegations. /jpv