Former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. challenged Vice President Sara Duterte and former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to undergo lie detector tests as part of the controversy surrounding his allegations of cash deliveries.
Gracioso appeared again before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and submitted what he described as evidence related to his claims that he delivered suitcases containing billions of pesos in cash to Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, allegedly on Velasco’s instructions.
Gracioso also presented photographs that he said showed him with Duterte and Velasco. He said the images would support his claim that he knew the vice president, contrary to Duterte’s previous statement that she did not know him.
Duterte and Velasco have denied Gracioso’s allegations. Duterte said she did not know Gracioso and denied receiving money from him.
Gracioso previously underwent a polygraph examination conducted by the NBI. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Gracioso recorded a 99% truthfulness result in the test, while the agency continued validating his statements through other means.
Matibag said the NBI would invite Vice President Duterte, Rep. Paolo Duterte, Velasco and Velasco’s wife as part of the validation of Gracioso’s statements.
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also confirmed that Gracioso had served as part of Velasco’s security detail.
Authorities emphasized that Gracioso’s allegations still need thorough validation before any conclusion can be reached.
The NBI investigation remains ongoing, while the parties named in the allegations have denied the claims.
