Velasco knows Gracioso, denies money delivery claims — lawyer

MANILA — The legal counsel of  former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday and denied the money delivery allegations of his former security aide Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. 

Gracioso, a dismissed policeman, claimed that Velasco had instructed him to deliver billions of pesos worth in cash to Vice President Sara Duterte and her family. She has denied the allegations.

“Malinaw naman po ang track record ni former House speaker. We vehemently denied the allegations of delivery and facilitating of delivery of money to any individuals,” Velasco’slawyer Rowell Ilagan said. 

Asked whether Velasco knew Gracioso, Ilagan said: “Kilala po. Kilala. Pero hindi po natin masabi kung ano ‘yong pagkakilala,” he said.

He said they were preparing documents and other evidence to dispute Gracioso’s allegations.

“Sasagutin po namin. Meron po kaming katibayan kung ano po ang naging estado ni Gracioso at relasyon niya sa kliyente namin,” he said.

“Tayo pong lahat nagulat. We are confident that we are able to address all the allegations. Ngayon po inaayos na po namin lahat ng ebidensya, travel records, and other relevant documents to really dispute the allegations of Gracioso.” 

Ilagan attended the NBI’s fact-finding investigation into Gracioso’s allegations.  

“Sasagutan po namin ang lahat ng alegasyon on the proper forum and proper time. We will participate in the investigation na gagawin in relation to this case,” Ilagan said. 

He did not directly disclose the Velascos’ whereabouts when asked if they were overseas.  

“Unang-una po they are private citizens. They are not government officials. So as private citizens, malaya po silang mag-travel at any time,” the lawyer said. 

“Nasabi naman po ng NBI kung anong status ng kliyente ko. ‘Yon lang po. Of course, marami pong sinasabi. Tandaan po natin kailangan nating suriin ang mga ebidensya. Hindi po dapat paniwalaan ang mga sinasabi. ‘Yong ebidensya po kailangang i-test natin lalo na po sa panahon ngayon ang ebidensya ang dali-dali pong siraan, i-fabricate,” he said. 

Ilagan questioned the credibility of Gracioso, noting that the latter was dismissed from the police service.

“Ang dami nang lumalabas sa media pero lagi nating tatandaan na in order for an evidence to be believable, it must only come from a credible witness but the evidence itself must be credible,” Ilagan said.

“Lagi po nating tatandaan, i-assess po natin ‘yong credibility ng witness. As reported, Gracioso was dismissed from the service. He has also been involved in a lot of misconduct in his personal and professional life. ‘Yong allegation o ‘yong testimony niya should also be assessed. It is contrary of course to verifiable events and even to common sense.”

He also urged the public to scrutinize the allegations.

“Hinihikayat po natin ang publiko lalo na rin po ang ating mga media practitioners na maging mapanuri po sa mga alegasyon sa panahon po ngayon, hindi sapat na mambintang at manghusga. Mas importante po ang magpatunay at ebidensya. Let the facts speak, let the evidence be tried and let the truth prevail,” he said.