THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided houses in Valle Verde, Pasig City, allegedly owned by former speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena, in August over information that high-powered firearms were being kept there. Six days later, he flew out of the country.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that the raids were carried out on Aug. 24, adding another significant development to the widening NBI investigation involving the former House leader and his former security aide, dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
Matibag said the raid was launched following NBI reports of illegal firearms on the properties.
The NBI has yet to release official findings from the raids, including whether evidence was seized or charges are being prepared.
Gracioso has accused Velasco of instructing him to deliver suitcases allegedly containing billions of pesos in cash to Vice President Sara Duterte and members of her family, including her father, then-president Rodrigo Duterte.
The NBI has not issued a detailed briefing on the operations but officials said further developments may follow as the investigation progresses.
The NBI has yet to establish the truth of Gracioso’s allegations, with Matibag saying investigators are still validating the former security aide’s claims, including photographs and videos he submitted as supposed evidence.
The agency has also indicated that the people named in Gracioso’s affidavit would be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The Aug. 24 raids preceded the surfacing of Gracioso’s explosive allegations, raising questions about what information prompted the NBI to obtain and serve search warrants on the properties.
Matibag said the firearms-related operation was based on intelligence information and was separate from the cash-delivery allegations now being investigated.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed early this week that Velasco is out of the country, saying there was no immigration order or hold departure order on record that would have prevented him from leaving the country.
The bureau did not provide any other details, citing data privacy rules.
BI sources said that Velasco left for Nagoya, Japan, on Aug. 30 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR438, while his wife departed for Hong Kong on Sept. 26 via Cathay Pacific flight CX 906.
Velasco’s camp has denied the allegations, calling them fabricated and without basis.
Face the probe
Malacañang urged Velasco to face the investigation into allegations linking him to multimillion-peso cash deliveries to high-ranking officials.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said facing the investigation is necessary to clear Velasco’s name amid serious accusations made by his former security aide, Gracioso.
“It would be better for him to provide an explanation — especially since his name has been linked to the millions allegedly contained in the large bags being delivered to the vice president, president Duterte and Congressman Pulong Duterte,” Castro said in Filipino.
“If there is a need to clear their names and reputations, it is far better to simply face the investigation rather than going abroad and staying out of sight,” she added.
