Politics · Philippines Bureau
Palace demands Velasco address allegations of cash links to Duterte family
Malacañang has called on former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to clarify his involvement in alleged cash deliveries to members of the Duterte family. Velasco has been out of the country since August, with reports indicating he traveled to Japan.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Palace on Wednesday urged former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to publicly address allegations linking him to cash payments made to relatives of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Velasco, who has been absent from the Philippines since August, faces mounting scrutiny over his purported role in the transfers. According to the National Bureau of Investigation, the former legislator departed for Nagoya, Japan, coinciding with intensified investigations into the alleged scheme.
Government officials have indicated that Velasco should provide a detailed explanation of his involvement to clear his name amid the controversy. The allegations emerge during a broader crackdown on alleged illegal financial transactions involving the Duterte family, which has faced intense public and legislative scrutiny in recent months.
The case represents another chapter in the ongoing investigation into potential financial irregularities connected to the previous administration. Authorities have not disclosed the specific amounts allegedly involved or the full scope of the alleged cash transfers.