MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has yet to re-enter the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed Tuesday, as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) opened an inquiry into claims linking the former lawmaker to multi-billion peso cash transfers to members of the Duterte family.
The BI clarified that Velasco faced no travel restrictions upon leaving the country.
”Based on the bureau’s records, there was no existing hold departure order (HDO) or derogatory alert that would have prevented his departure from the Philippines,” the BI stated.
The bureau declined to share further details regarding Velasco’s travel history, citing strict data privacy regulations.
According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Velasco left the Philippines on August 30 and was slated to return on September 14. However, official immigration logs showed no record of his entry as of Monday, September 28.
Matibag added that Velasco’s wife, Rowena, departed for Hong Kong on September 24 with a scheduled return on September 27, but she has likewise not been logged as returning. The NBI has requested immigration authorities to closely monitor the couple’s arrival.
The investigation stems from allegations brought forward by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who identified himself as the chief of Velasco’s security detail—an assignment confirmed by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In a sworn affidavit, Gracioso alleged that he transported luggage filled with cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte following instructions from Velasco.
The ex-cop claimed that over ₱2 billion was handed over to the Vice President across more than 20 separate occasions.
Gracioso presented himself at the NBI headquarters on Monday as investigators began evaluating his testimony and corroborative evidence. The NBI announced plans to invite the individuals mentioned in the affidavit—including Vice President Duterte, Representative Paolo Duterte, Velasco, and his wife—to present their statements.
Vice President Duterte has dismissed the claims, denying any connection to Gracioso or receiving funds from him. Meanwhile, Velasco’s camp rejected the accusations, calling the assertions entirely fabricated and “baseless.”