MANILA — It would be better for former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to offer an explanation after being implicated in alleged cash deliveries to the Dutertes, Malacañang said Wednesday.
This comes after the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Velasco, former Marinduque congressman, is currently out of the country.
Dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso earlier alleged that Velasco ordered him to deliver suitcases of cash to the vice president, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte.
Ex-Speaker Velasco currently out of the country—BI
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing Wednesday, September 30 that news of Velasco being abroad came out after raids on houses he owns.
She said she cannot speculate on why Velasco left the country.
The Palace official believes it would be prudent for the former House leader to cooperate with the inquiry instead of going overseas to clear his and his spouse’s name.
“[M]as magandang magbigay siya ng pagpapaliwanag para kung mayroon dapat linisin na integridad especially iyong kaniyang pangalan at pangalan ng kaniyang asawa ay mas magandang humarap na lang sila sa pag-iimbestiga at hindi kailangang lumayo at mangibang bansa at hindi magpakita,” Castro said.
(It would be better that he offer an explanation — so if there is anything to clear up and to clear his name and that of his wife's — it would be better for them to face the investigation. They do not need to to leave the country and disappear.)
Matibag confirms NBI raided houses allegedly owned by Velasco
National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag previously said they would invite the Velascos and the Dutertes to validate the claims as they were mentioned in the affidavit of Gracioso.