MANILA — Travel and passport records submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) could put key portions of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.’s alleged cash-delivery timeline under scrutiny, with former Davao City official Jefry Tupas saying he was outside the Philippines when he supposedly received suitcases of money intended for Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Tupas, a former Davao City chief information officer who later worked at the Office of the Vice President, denied receiving money, gifts or vehicles for Duterte-Carpio and challenged specific incidents narrated by Gracioso using records of his overseas trips.
In an affidavit submitted to the NBI, Tupas said he believed Gracioso was referring to him as “Jepoy” or “Jepoi,” a nickname used for him among Duterte-Carpio’s close aides at the time, although Gracioso identified the person as “Tupaz.”
“Sa simula pa lamang ay nais kong sabihing malinaw na ang mga pahayag at paratang na ito ni Gracioso ay pawang kasinungalingan lamang at madaling maipakita na sinungaling siya,” Tupas said.
Gracioso has alleged that he delivered suitcases containing cash to Duterte-Carpio, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte upon the instructions of then-House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
One of the transactions cited in Gracioso’s affidavit allegedly occurred in Marinduque during Holy Week in April 2019, when Duterte-Carpio supposedly instructed him to turn over cash to “Jepoy.”
Tupas said he had never been to Marinduque and presented records indicating that he left the Philippines for South Korea on April 18, 2019 and returned on April 22.
The travel timeline would place him outside the country during the alleged April 19 transaction.
Tupas similarly challenged Gracioso’s account of another alleged cash handover on Sept. 21, 2019.
Gracioso claimed he brought two suitcases containing P50 million each and was instructed to give them to “Jepoy.”
Tupas said his travel documents showed that he left the Philippines for Japan on Sept. 19 and did not return until the evening of Sept. 22 — a day after the alleged delivery.
The records submitted by Tupas included airline and passport documents that he said supported his account of his whereabouts during the two disputed transactions.
Tupas also rejected Gracioso’s allegation involving three suitcases supposedly delivered in 2020, pointing to the strict travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ang masasabi ko lang ay puro kathang-isip at pawang kasinungalingan lamang. Kahit kailan, walang nangyari na may tinanggap akong maleta ng pera, regalo, o sasakyan para kay Sara Z. Duterte,” Tupas said.
He further denied ever visiting Velasco’s residence in Valle Verde or any other residence mentioned in Gracioso’s allegations.
Tupas also said he did not know Gracioso personally.
The conflicting accounts are now among the claims being examined by the NBI, which has said evidence connected with Gracioso’s allegations would have to be authenticated and independently verified. The bureau is investigating allegations involving possible violations of the Anti-Plunder Act, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The NBI subpoenaed Tupas to appear before the bureau on Oct. 1 as part of the investigation.
His counsel said Tupas could not personally appear because the subpoena was received on short notice while he was based in Mindanao. Instead, his sworn affidavit addressing Gracioso’s allegations was submitted to investigators.
Tupas’ camp also expressed surprise over the subpoena, saying he had expected the NBI to consider protective custody following information that he was allegedly at risk of abduction.
Duterte-Carpio has denied knowing Gracioso and receiving money from him, while Velasco’s camp has also denied the former police officer’s allegations. The NBI has stressed that the results of Gracioso’s earlier polygraph examination did not by themselves establish the truth of the specific cash-delivery claims./PN
