NBI investigating ex-Velasco security aide's claims he delivered P2B to Sara Duterte

The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating the claims of a policeman who served as a security officer for former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

In an exclusive interview, Police Corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. said that he delivered suitcases containing cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte on Velasco’s instructions.

Gracioso estimated that he had delivered a total of more than P2 billion to Sara Duterte.

“Aabot siguro, ma’am, mga dalawang bilyon, lampas pa. Lahat-lahat. Mga P2 billion pataas.”

(Probably around P2 billion, even more. More than P2 billion in all.)

Asked how many times he had brought Sara Duterte cash and gifts, he said: “Yung tanda ko lang siguro. More than 20 siguro.”

(As far as I can recall, probably more than 20.)

Gracioso said he served as Velasco’s head of security beginning in 2018, when Velasco was a congressman, and continued working for him during his speakership from 2020 to 2022.

The National Bureau of Investigation gave GMA News a copy of Gracioso’s affidavit where he detailed alleged deliveries of suitcases containing P20 million to P50 million each to locations in Metro Manila, Davao, and elsewhere.

GMA News has sought comments through phone calls and messages from Sara Duterte, Pulong Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte, and Velasco since Thursday, but they have yet to give any.

The NBI gave GMA News a copy of Gracioso’s affidavit where he detailed alleged deliveries of suitcases containing P20 million to P50 million each to locations in Metro Manila, Davao, and other locations.

Gracioso recalled his first alleged delivery for Sara Duterte in 2018.

He said Velasco’s wife, Rowena, whom he called “Ma’am Wen,” instructed him to prepare a small suitcase containing P20 million and bring it to a hotel.

“Yun sabi ni Mam Wen na abutan si Ma'am Sara… Ikakamada ako at 20M sa maliit na maleta. Pupunta kami sa Diamond Hotel, mam. Sasabihin ko, mam, ito mam, pinabot ni mam Wen. Tapos, o sige, bigay mo na lang kay Jef Tupas, yung staff ni mam Sara. Yan ang pinakauna.”

(Ma’am Wen told me to bring it to Ma’am Sara. I packed ₱20 million in a small suitcase and went to the Diamond Hotel. I told her Ma’am Wen had sent it. She told me to give it to Jef Tupas, her staff member. That was the first time.)

Gracioso said the amounts grew as more deliveries were made in Davao.

“Kinakamada ko yun, 200. Pinapaabot yan mam ni Sir Allan diretso sa Davao. Tapos palaki na palaki yun, hanggang may 500.”

(I packed 200, which Sir Allan had sent directly to Davao. The amounts kept growing until one reached 500.)

When asked whether he meant P500 million, Gracioso replied, “Yes, ma'am, tatlong van.”

He placed that alleged delivery in 2021, when Velasco was Speaker.

In his affidavit, Gracioso said they also turned over nearly 10 newly purchased vans to Sara Duterte, who was then Davao City mayor. He claimed the vans were used to transport cash intended for her.

Gracioso said nearly every delivery also included luxury bags, watches, and Royce chocolates, which he described as among Duterte’s favorites.

He showed GMA News photos of suitcases and boxes he claimed to have filled with cash for a P500-million delivery.

Gracioso said he took the photos himself and was instructed to bring the money to Davao.

He also showed a group photo that he said was taken after he and his companions delivered the money to Sara Duterte’s house. He said the photos had not been edited.

GMA News has yet to independently verify that the photos show what Gracioso described or were taken in the circumstances he recounted.

The photos were not included in his affidavit.

Asked why Velasco was allegedly giving Sara Duterte money, Gracioso said he had asked his former boss the same question.

“Boss, para sa'n yun' kay Ma'am? Kasama na kasi 'yan sa percentage e, percentage sa kita.”

(I asked, "Boss, what is that for, Ma’am?” He said it was part of the percentage, a percentage of the earnings.)

Gracioso claimed that the money came from collections involving government agencies, particularly public works projects.

He also said that he also met Ramil Madriaga, who has described himself as Sara Duterte’s bagman and aide, a connection the vice president has denied.

Recalling an alleged delivery connected to Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Gracioso said Velasco told him to set aside P20 million in a suitcase.

“Sabi ko, Ma’am, nandito yung nakatabi. Sabi niya, 'Abot mo kay Ramil.'”

(I told her, “Ma’am, the amount set aside is here.” She said, “Give it to Ramil.”)

Pointing to a photo of motorcycles, Gracioso alleged that Madriaga bought them with the P20 million he had delivered. He said the photo was taken during a trip around churches in Mindanao in 2019.

Gracioso, in the interview, made claims that were not detailed in his affidavit. He said he also brought money to then-President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang between 2018 and 2022.

“Una ma’am, mga gift gift. Iba ibang mga gift. Mga pagkain, hanggang maleta din, ma'am.”

(At first, there were gifts, including food. Later, there were suitcases too.)

Gracioso estimated that the total amount intended for the former president exceeded P1 billion, although he did not give an exact count of the deliveries.

He said he handed bags to then-Special Assistant to the President Bong Go in Rodrigo Duterte’s presence.

“Pagdating namin doon, sasalubungin ng mga security ni Sen. Bong Go yung paper bag na 'yun. Dalawa, mayroon kay Pangulo. Aabot ko kay Senator.”

(When we arrived, Senator Bong Go’s security would meet us. There were two paper bags, including one for the president. I would hand them to the senator.)

Asked whether the former president could see the handover, Gracioso answered, “Yes, ma’am. Nakikita.”

Gracioso also alleged that he delivered a suitcase containing P100 million to Paolo Duterte. He described one handover at a bar in Makati during the pandemic and another at a bar in Davao.

“Pumunta sila sa Makati. Pinasara nila yung bar. Naalala ko pa, ma'am, pandemic yun e. Pinasara yung bar. Inabutan ko siya ng maleta rin. Sumunod na abot ko sa kanya sa Davao, bar din yun. Inabutan ko siya ng isang maleta, kasama si Sir Allan. Sa kanya mismo.”

(They went to Makati and had the bar closed. I remember it was during the pandemic. I handed him a suitcase there. The next handover was also at a bar, this time in Davao. Sir Allan was with me. I handed him the suitcase personally.)

Gracioso further claimed in his affidavit that Velasco bought six houses to store cash.

“Araw-araw, pi-pick up yung mga driver doon. Tambak lang nang tambak pag nakaipon.”

(The drivers would pick up cash there every day. It just kept piling up.)

He added: “Kung isang bahay lang na ordinary yung mga 1,000 square meter, kulang yun, ma’am.” (One ordinary house, even one measuring about 1,000 square meters, wouldn’t be enough.)

He also alleged that former congressman Zaldy Co was among those who gave Velasco money.

Gracioso said some men who identified themselves as Co’s former bodyguards handed him suitcases of cash for delivery to Davao.

He acknowledged that he held a grudge against Velasco and his wife after they allegedly failed to help him when he and his father became ill.

“May tampo ako sa kanila talaga. Kasi sa pitong taon ko sa kanila, ma’am, na pagsilbi… di ako niya nabigyan ng kahit konting tulong.”

(I have a grudge. I served them for seven years, but they did not give me even a little help.)

He insisted, however, that he was telling the truth and had not benefited from the alleged transactions.

“Dapat pagkatiwalaan ako kasi ako lang naman ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Kasi sa pitong taon ko sa kanila, wala naman akong makuha kung magsabi ako ng mali. Ako, totoo lang ang sinasabi ko. Gusto ko lang matama ang korapsyon nila.”

(I should be believed because I am telling the truth. After seven years with them, I have nothing to gain from making false claims. I just want their corruption corrected.)

“Hindi naman yun, ma’am, na ginagamit ako. Kasi may isip naman ako. Basta ako pipanindigan ako… Basta ako, magsalita ako sa tama.”

(I am not being used. I have a mind of my own. I will stand by what I have said. I just want to speak up about what is right.)

GMA News is also seeking comments from Go and Rowena Velasco.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag 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.

Matibag said the NBI had checked Gracioso’s background and was examining his claims through interviews and other investigative means. He also cited a 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 figure was Matibag’s characterization of the test result; the NBI’s investigation into the allegations remains open.

“Bukod doon sa checking na pag-interview lang, yung mga binabanggit niya, we also validated it by other means. Checking on our intel network, lahat na pwede namin tingnan kung yung mga binanggit niya ba ay nag-a-adapt.”

(Apart from interviewing him about the things he mentioned, we also checked them through other means, including our intelligence network and everything else we could examine to see whether his account held up.)

“This is still an open investigation namin dahil maraming personalities.”

(This remains an open investigation because many people are involved.)

Matibag said Gracioso would remain under the NBI’s care while the investigation continues. He said the bureau was coordinating with the Department of Justice, but that Gracioso could not qualify for the Witness Protection Program while he remained in active service.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed in a message to GMA News that the DOJ had received Gracioso’s affidavit and was evaluating it.

“Affidavit of deponent has been received by the DOJ and is under evaluation,” Vida said. —LDF/NB, GMA News