By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena, failed to show up at the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) investigation into cash delivery allegations by dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
Velasco has instead sent his lawyers, who asked the NBI to give them until Thursday to respond to Gracioso’s allegations.
Gracioso claimed that Velasco instructed him to deliver money in suitcases to the family members of President Rodrigo Duterte, including former Davao City Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing an impeachment trial.
Atty. Rowel Ilagan, one of Velasco’s lawyers, said they formally requested a copy of Gracioso’s affidavit from the NBI.
Ilagan, in a media interview, said Velasco personally knows Gracioso but failed to confirm whether the dismissed policeman served as the former Speaker’s security aide.
Velasco left the country last August while his wife flew out last month, reports earlier said.
The Velasco couple’s lawyers said their clients will disprove the allegations.
