MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday urged former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to return to the Philippines and take a polygraph or lie detector test amid allegations linking him to cash deliveries to members of the Duterte family.
Remulla said Velasco and his wife have been in Niseko, Japan — where they allegedly own property — since leaving the Philippines on August 30.
The lawmaker’s former security officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. claimed in an affidavit that he had delivered more than P2 billion in cash to Vice President Sara Duterte and members of her family allegedly upon Velasco’s instructions.
“I dare the Velasco couple to come home and take the same polygraph para makita natin kung sino talaga ang nagsasabi ng totoo (so we can see who is telling the truth),” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview as he attended the 33rd anniversary celebration of the Philippine Public Safety College in Pasay City.
Palace to ex-House Speaker Velasco: Better to explain, face probe to clear your name
Gracioso took his second lie detector test on Wednesday before the National Bureau of Investigation as the agency probes his claims.
“Ninety-eight percent he was telling the truth. When asked about kung nag-deliver siya ng bags (whether he delivered bags), the polygraph said he was telling the truth. When asked about ’yung relationship niya (his relationship), the polygraph said he was telling the truth,” Remulla said.
The official, however, acknowledged that a polygraph test is not an admission in court, adding that Gracioso’s claims will still have to be verified.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that polygraph test results cannot be offered as evidence of guilt or innocence as it "has not as yet attained scientific acceptance as a reliable and accurate means of ascertaining truth or deception."
Gracioso was removed from the Philippine National Police over three counts of less grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, with his dismissal taking effect on September 11.