Ex-VP aide needs more time after NBI subpoena

MANILA, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned Jeffrey Tupas, who reportedly served as information officer of Davao City when Vice President Sara Duterte was mayor, as part of its investigation into alleged plunder, graft and money laundering.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag signed the subpoena dated Sept. 28 directing Tupas to appear at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City at 10 a.m. yesterday.

The subpoena orders Tupas to provide information and give evidence in connection with the bureau’s investigation into alleged violations of Republic Act 7080, or the Anti-Plunder Act; RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and RA 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.

The NBI has summoned Tupas after Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. – a dismissed policeman and security officer of former speaker Lord Allan Velasco – claimed that he delivered suitcases containing cash amounting to P2 billion to the Vice President. Gracioso said that the money was delivered to the Dutertes upon instructions from Velasco.

Gracioso said the first time he delivered money to Duterte, then amounting to P20 million, was in 2018 when she was still Davao City mayor. He claimed Duterte instructed him to give the suitcase to a member of her staff, a certain Jeff Tupas.

In a letter received by the Office of NBI Director on Oct. 1, 10:15 a.m., Tupas’ counsel Caesar Europa said the subpoena issued by Matibag was received at the residence of Tupas’ parents in Kabacan, Cotabato in the afternoon of Sept. 29.

“Nonetheless, in relation to the subpoena for Mr. Tupas to appear before you at 10 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2026, the notice is too short for him to comply, particularly considering he is based in Mindanao,” Europa added.

Tupas was involved in a controversy in 2021 after the party he attended was later raided by authorities over suspected illegal drug activity.

“While the scope of what he is supposed to be asked about ‘to provide relevant information on the investigation being conducted by this bureau…’ is a bit wide, it is unreasonable for Mr. Tupas to believe that the inquiry is in relation to the allegations of a certain P/Cpl. Rodulfo M. Gracioso, whose interview and sworn statement are making their rounds in news and social media,” Europa added.

Tupas also submitted his sworn affidavit addressing the allegations of Gracioso.

In his affidavit, Tupas said that he used to be a City Information Officer of Davao City from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 8, 2021 and also worked in the Office of the Vice President from June 30, 2022 until Oct. 15, 2025.

“I felt so much surprise and shock when I saw in the media and social media the statements of Gracioso, and especially when I received a copy of his sworn statement where there were allegations that he, allegedly, delivered suitcases of money, gifts and vehicles to former Mayor of Davao City and now Vice President of the Philippines, Sara Z. Duterte, many times and he even implicated my name because he had stated that he had allegedly delivered or given me the (money) he delivered for the Vice President,” Tupas said in his sworn affidavit.

Tupas maintained that the allegations of Gracioso were “all lies.”

“In my entire life, I have never been to the house of former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco in Valle Verde or anywhere else and I do not know ‘Kuya Tony’ who was also mentioned in the sworn statement of Gracioso,” Tupas said.

According to Tupas, he does not know Gracioso, and accused the former policeman of trying to destroy the name of Duterte.

“As I said, I am now a private person and I no longer have any position in the government. Because of this, I want a quiet life and I hope that I will not be implicated again in fabricated stories, especially stories whose overt purpose is only slander and political wrangling,” Tupas added.

Duterte’s camp also debunked Gracioso’s claims of cash deliveries.

“He mentioned a specific date—Holy Week of 2019—but Jeff Tupas was in Korea at that time. Then there was another date—in 2021—but Jeff Tupas was in Japan during that period. Gracioso is just unlucky; whenever he fabricates a story, it happens to coincide with a time when Jeff Tupas—the person he claims he handed the suitcase to—wasn’t even around,” Duterte’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo said over Bilyonaryo News Channel.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has vowed to study the allegations made by Gracioso on the deliveries of cash to the Duterte family on orders of Velasco.

In a media briefing yesterday, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said that Gracioso’s statement, which the agency received last week, remains “under evaluation.”

Should the need arise, the DOJ would study whether or not Gracioso could be admitted to the Witness Protection Program, as well as case buildup against personalities he accused in his affidavit, he added.

“We need to e able to validate and verify material points in his statement… we are seeing from open sources that some people were validating, some people were disputing, so the DOJ will scrutinize this,” Vida said.

Vida maintained they would look into the “totality of circumstances” surrounding Gracioso’s statements, considering the questions on his police record, including his dismissal already raised earlier.

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