Velasco camp: Reports of illegal activities have 'no basis'

The camp of Lord Allan Velasco on Saturday issued a statement on what they called "fabricated attacks" on the former House Speaker, saying the allegations against him have "no basis."

"The former Speaker of the House's record of service in the government is untainted with corruption and his wife's benevolence is widely known, leaving no basis for the illegal allegations now being suggested," said Velasco's spokesperson, Atty. Rowell Ilagan in a statement.

Velasco's camp also called the accusations against the former speaker as "inconsistent."

"The "one-size-fits-all" narration by this individual seems to be designed and fabricated to attack as many targets as it can while being inconsistent with verifiable events, that is, the Covid-19 pandemic, Atty.Velasco's period of service as speaker, other details, and even basic common sense," added Velascos' spokesperson.

On Friday, dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who claim to have served as a security officer for Velasco, said that he delivered suitcases containing cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte as ordered by the former speaker.

Velasco's camp, however, urges the public to be "more circumspect" about the allegations.

"We respectfully urge everyone to be more circumspect in appreciating this news report while we evaluate and determine the accountability of the individual and the publisher under the law," said Atty. Ilagan.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday also denied Gracioso's claim.

"Mga kababayan, I do not know Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., nor have I ever received any money from him," Duterte said in a statement.

"My lawyers are awaiting an official copy of the Gracioso affidavit from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so they can begin working on the cases to be filed against him," she added.

"Once we are done dismantling the lies contained in his testimony, it will end up in the trash bin—just like the one from Ramil Madriaga," Duterte said.

The vice president said Gracioso's allegation is "another media stunt," adding that the Marcos administration is bent on bringing her down.

"This is nothing more than another media stunt, an attempt to breathe life into a faltering impeachment case. The desperation of the administration to bring me down, push for Charter Change, prevent the 2028 elections, and cling to power is becoming increasingly diabolical," she said.

Gracioso estimated that he had delivered a total of more than P2 billion to Sara Duterte.

He also said he also brought money to then-President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang between 2018 and 2022, and delivered a suitcase containing P100 million to Pulong Duterte.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed in a message to GMA News that the Department of Justice had received Gracioso’s affidavit and was evaluating it.

GMA News has sought comments through phone calls and messages from Pulong Duterte and Rodrigo Duterte since Thursday, but they have yet to give any.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it is investigating Gracioso's claims. —VAL, GMA News