MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday confirmed that dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. had been detailed as security personnel to former speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Nartatez disclosed that Gracioso had a prior criminal case and administrative proceedings that eventually led to his dismissal from the police service.
“Gracioso had been investigated, an administrative case, and there is a corresponding criminal case filed against him,” he said.
He said the case dates back to 2022, when Gracioso was assigned to the Police Regional Office-4A (Calabarzon).
The administrative case was eventually resolved, resulting in Gracioso’s dismissal from the PNP, Nartatez said.
Records also showed that Gracioso had been disciplined several times before his dismissal, including at least three suspensions and a demotion. He was eventually dismissed from the police service this month.
The dismissal came as Gracioso surfaced to make allegations involving Velasco and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Gracioso claimed he served as Velasco’s head of security beginning in 2018, when Velasco was a congressman, and continued in that role while Velasco was House speaker from 2020 to 2022.
He alleged that he delivered suitcases containing cash to Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte on Velasco’s instructions.
Gracioso claimed that he made more than 20 deliveries to the vice president totaling more than P2 billion. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has received his sworn affidavit and is investigating the allegations.
Duterte has denied knowing Gracioso or receiving money from him, while Velasco’s camp has rejected the allegations as fabricated.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the agency subjected Gracioso to a polygraph examination and had independently validated some of his statements, although this does not by itself establish the truth of his allegations.
