By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Former Davao City information officer Jeffrey Tupas has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for more time to appear before the agency after being subpoenaed in connection with allegations of massive cash deliveries involving Vice President Sara Duterte and her family.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag issued the subpoena dated Sept. 28, ordering Tupas to appear at the bureau’s headquarters in Pasay City on Oct. 1 and provide information and evidence concerning alleged violations of the Anti-Plunder Act, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
But Tupas’ lawyer, Caesar Europa, said the subpoena reached the residence of Tupas’ parents in Kabacan, Cotabato only on the afternoon of Sept. 29—leaving his client little time to travel from Mindanao and comply with the NBI’s scheduled appearance.
In a letter received by Matibag’s office on Oct. 1, Europa asked that Tupas be given additional time to respond to the subpoena.
The NBI inquiry followed allegations by Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., a dismissed policeman and former security officer of ex-Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, that he delivered suitcases containing cash totaling P2 billion to the Duterte family upon instructions from Velasco.
Gracioso claimed that one of the alleged deliveries took place in 2018, when Duterte was still mayor of Davao City. He said he was instructed to hand a suitcase containing P20 million to a staff member identified as Jeff Tupas.
Tupas categorically rejected the allegation.
In his sworn affidavit submitted to the NBI, Tupas said he was shocked by Gracioso’s statements and described the accusations as “all lies.”
Tupas said he served as Davao City information officer from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 8, 2021 before working at the Office of the Vice President from June 30, 2022 until Oct. 15, 2025.
He also denied knowing Gracioso and said he had never been to Velasco’s house in Valle Verde or anywhere else. He likewise denied knowing a person identified in Gracioso’s affidavit as “Kuya Tony.”
Tupas said he is now a private citizen seeking a quiet life and objected to being implicated in what he described as fabricated stories intended to cause political trouble.
Duterte spokesperson Paolo Panelo also disputed Gracioso’s account, pointing to Tupas’ alleged whereabouts during dates cited in the accusations.
Panelo said Tupas was in Korea during Holy Week of 2019, when Gracioso claimed another transaction occurred, and was in Japan during a separate period mentioned in the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said it has yet to reach conclusions on Gracioso’s allegations.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the statements remain under evaluation and that investigators must first validate and verify material portions of Gracioso’s account.
“We need to be able to validate and verify material points in his statement,” Vida said, noting that some individuals had sought to validate the allegations while others had disputed them.
The DOJ will also consider, if warranted, whether Gracioso may qualify for the Witness Protection Program and whether case buildup should proceed against the personalities he implicated.
Vida said authorities would examine the totality of the circumstances surrounding Gracioso’s statements, including questions already raised about his police record and dismissal.
ia/xf
