MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation has issued invitations to Vice President Sara Duterte, her brother Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, and former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco as it continues its fact-finding investigation into alleged deliveries of money in suitcases.
Dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. has alleged that Velasco had instructed him to deliver the money to members of the Duterte family, including former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Vice President Duterte has denied the allegations.
On Thursday, NBI personnel went to Velasco's house in Pasig City to serve an invitation for him to appear before the NBI on October 5.
The invitation is meant to give Velasco the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Remulla dares Velasco couple to come home, take polygraph test
The NBI also served invitations to Vice President Duterte and Rep. Duterte, both of whom were named in Gracioso’s allegations involving alleged deliveries of large amounts of money.
The invitations are intended to give them an opportunity to provide their respective statements and respond to the allegations.
PASIG RAIDS
The NBI earlier served a search warrant at three houses in an exclusive subdivision in Pasig City that they said they later found belong to the Velascos.
The operation was conducted following information involving alleged high-powered firearms and ammunition.
Matibag confirms NBI raided houses allegedly owned by Velasco
According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the search yielded magazines, ammunition and identification cards of security personnel.
"Hindi alam na kay Velasco (We did not know that the houses were Velasco's) ," he said.
The NBI continues to verify the ownership and circumstances surrounding the items recovered.