Dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. stood by his allegations that he delivered large amounts of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte and members of her family while working as a security aide of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, and challenged both Duterte and Velasco to take a lie detector test.
Gracioso made the challenge as he appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with his allegations involving billions of pesos in cash deliveries from 2018 to 2022.
Gracioso said he first met Duterte in 2017 while serving as part of Velasco’s security detail.
Asked how he could substantiate his allegations, Gracioso said he had already submitted evidence to the NBI, including photographs and videos that allegedly showed him delivering money.
“Meron po,” Gracioso said when asked if he personally saw the money involved in the alleged transactions.
He rejected claims that his allegations were fabricated, saying he would not risk making up a story that could land him in jail.
“Mahirap mag-imbento bilang isang pulis, may kulong ’yan,” he said.
Gracioso then challenged Duterte and Velasco to undergo a lie detector test at the NBI to determine who was telling the truth.
“Kay Sir Allan po at Ma’am Sara, kung willing sila magpa-lie detector test dito sa NBI para malaman kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo at hindi,” he said.
Gracioso also explained why he was only making the allegations public now. He said he sought Velasco’s help after his father became ill but claimed that the former House speaker did not help him.
Meanwhile, Velasco’s camp has rejected Gracioso’s allegations.
Lawyer Rowell Ilagan, Velasco’s spokesperson, described Gracioso’s account as “designed and fabricated,” saying it did not match verifiable events, including the timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic and Velasco’s tenure as House speaker.
Gracioso has claimed that he delivered more than ₱2 billion to Duterte, ₱1 billion to former President Rodrigo Duterte and ₱100 million to a congressman on Velasco’s instructions.
The allegations remain disputed, with Gracioso maintaining that he has submitted supporting evidence to the NBI.