PNP: Gracioso statements to be probed on own merit

MANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it would examine the allegations made by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso on their own merit, regardless of his administrative record.

PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief PCol. Allen Rae Co said the police organization was looking into the veracity of Gracioso’s claims, including his allegations about delivering cash-filled suitcases to members of the Duterte family.

“We will treat ‘yung kanyang statement as stated by our [DILG] Secretary, as directed by our chief PNP, on its own merit, not necessarily connected doon sa mga na-commit niya during his time in service,” Co said in a press briefing Tuesday.

Based on PNP records, Gracioso entered the police service on Aug. 1, 2015 and was assigned to the Calabarzon police office. 

He later served as one of the security aides of then-House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco from November 2020 until March 2022.

This is contrary to Gracioso’s affidavit before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), where he claimed he served as Velasco’s security aide from 2017 to 2024, or for seven years.

“He actually served former speaker Lord Allan Velasco for 1 year and 4 months,” Co said.

The PNP said it was checking how Gracioso came to be assigned to Velasco, including whether he was specifically requested by the former House Speaker or assigned through the unit responsible for VIP security.

“Some request specific persons to be part of their security. Meron naman na basta ia-assign ng PSPG or the unit na nag-aassign. We will have to check kung nirequest siya specifically ni former House speaker,” Co said.

The security detail was recalled in March 2022, the PNP said.

Gracioso was dismissed from the police service effective Sept. 11, 2026.

He has appealed the dismissal, although the PNP said no decision on his appeal has been issued yet.

“I highly doubt that na hindi niya alam kasi nag-appeal na nga siya so kapag nag-appeal ka, you were properly served a dismissal order for you to be able to appeal. But we will check how it was served sa kanya ‘yung dismissal order,” Co said.

The PNP said Gracioso had five administrative cases, including allegations of conduct unbecoming and grave misconduct.

However, police said most, if not all, of these cases were filed after his stint as Velasco’s security aide.

“So there cases on 2023, 2025. Some are personal in nature, his own mga actuations, actions and not necessarily doon sa duty niya as security aide,” Co said.

The PNP also clarified that the administrative cases against Gracioso should not be used to automatically discredit or connect his recent allegations to his conduct while he was in the police service.

Meanwhile, the PNP said being a security aide does not include performing personal errands for a VIP or the VIP’s family.

“As security aide, you are not supposed to perform ‘yung personal sa isang tao like ‘yung pagda-drive ng pamilya, pagbubuhat ng mga gamit, ‘yung ikaw ang maggo-grocery for them, that is not part of the job description,” Co said.

“Ang security aide by the very name ay you will provide security services doon sa iyong VIP or sa principal. Labas ‘yung mga personal na bagay,” he stressed.

Gracioso’s allegations are now being investigated following an order from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will still invite former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to explain matters raised by former police Rodulfo Gracioso, despite confirmation that Velasco is currently out of the country.

NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the agency will invite Velasco to give him an opportunity to explain the allegations. He clarified that the NBI’s action will be an invitation, not a subpoena.

“We’ll invite them, para invitation, hindi naman subpoena, because we want to afford them the opportunity na makapagpaliwanag.”

The NBI confirmed through Bureau of Immigration (BI) records that Velasco left the Philippines on August 30 and has yet to return.

Matibag said the NBI coordinated with the BI after Gracioso, who identified himself as a former staffer of Velasco, appeared before the agency and submitted statements alleging that he delivered large amounts of money to members of the Duterte family from 2018 to 2022.

“We coordinated just to check sa Bureau of Immigration because we are planning to invite them. And we have information from Bureau of Immigration that as per data, they’re out of the country right now.”

According to Matibag, immigration records show that Velasco departed on August 30 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Nagoya, Japan. “August 30, umalis si former Congressman Lord Allan Velasco. Si Lord Allan, Nagoya yung flight niya via Philippine Airlines.”

Matibag said Velasco was expected to return to the Philippines on September 14, but there is still no record of his return.

Meanwhile, the NBI is considering a second lie detector examination for Gracioso, this time focusing on the specific allegations in his submitted statement.

“So, ang gusto namin mangyari, confront him with a lie detector test based dun sa binanggit na isinumite niya,” he said.

Matibag stressed that a lie detector test alone cannot establish whether Gracioso is telling the truth.

“Yung lie detector test, it doesn’t establish pa kung totoo ba o hindi. But it will establish at least yung psychological behavior at yung pagkataon na itong taong ito is more likely na yung sinasabi niya totoo,”  Matibag explained.

The NBI chief added that Gracioso’s allegations still need to be supported by corroborating evidence, including testimonies and documents.

“It should stand also sa corroborating evidence, testimony, documentary evidence. So yun yung ating tinitingnan.”

Matibag also clarified that the NBI’s current action does not yet constitute a full-blown investigation. “We speculate based on that because this is not yet a full-blown investigation.”