Ex-Speaker Velasco currently out of the country—BI
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco takes his oath after being installed as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives during a special meeting with allied lawmakers at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City on Monday. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed Tuesday that former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is currently out of the country.
The BI explained that “there was no existing Hold Departure Order (HDO) or derogatory alert that would have prevented his departure from the Philippines.”
“The BI cannot disclose further details concerning an individual’s immigration records due to data privacy concerns,” it added.
BI spokesperson Anisha Hasaan noted that individuals cannot simply be placed under immigration monitoring without the proper request or order from law enforcement authorities.
The National Bureau of Investigation said Monday the claims of former policeman Rodulfo Gracioso, Jr. against Velasco, Vice President Sara Duterte, and others were still subject to evaluation.
Director Melvin Matibag said it was still early to believe the claims of Gracioso that he delivered suitcases of money to the Vice President and her brother Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte upon the instructions of Velasco and his wife Rowena.
Matibag said the NBI would invite the Velascos and the Dutertes as they were mentioned in the affidavit of Gracioso. — With a report from Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News