Former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has dismissed as fabricated his former aide’s sworn claim that he hauled suitcases holding about P2 billion to Vice President Sara Duterte, with his camp arguing the account falls apart against a pandemic, a timeline and “basic common sense.”
Cpl. Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. alleged in an affidavit that he brought the bags of cash to Duterte in 2018, when she was mayor of Davao City. The claim emerged as Duterte stands trial before the Senate impeachment court on accusations of unexplained wealth.
Speaking for the former Marinduque congressman, lawyer Rowell Ilagan said over the weekend that Gracioso’s “one-size-fits-all narration” appeared “designed and fabricated to attack as many targets as it can while being inconsistent with verifiable events.”
Ilagan cited as examples “the COVID-19 pandemic, attorney Velasco’s period of service as Speaker, other details, and even basic common sense.”
He said Velasco’s record gives the allegations nothing to stand on. “The former speaker of the House’s record of service in the government is untainted with corruption and his wife’s benevolence is widely known, leaving no basis for the illegal allegations now being suggested,” Ilagan said.
The prosecution side, however, wants the claims examined. House impeachment spokesman Robert Ace Barbers, a former congressman, said they will likely ask Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to investigate, though the matter may no longer be taken up in the Senate trial.
“We will probably seek the intervention of the appropriate agency. In this case, this is the ombudsman, who has to conduct the investigation and file the necessary charges if it merits the filing of such charges against the respondent,” Barbers said on Bilyonaryo News Channel.
“Issues like this should not be ignored, and this should be investigated thoroughly so we can ferret out the truth,” he added.
Velasco’s camp, for its part, is studying possible legal action. “We respectfully urge everyone to be more circumspect in appreciating this news report while we evaluate and determine the accountability of the individual and the publisher under the law,” Ilagan said.
Ilagan also questioned the accuser’s standing, saying Gracioso had been removed from the police force. “The personal and professional record of this former policeman are reportedly marked by various misconducts, disciplinary sanctions and a recent dismissal from service from the PNP (Philippine National Police), for various criminal acts,” he said.
