In a statement, Tupas questioned the investigation conducted under NBI Director Melvin Matibag, claiming that the agency appeared to give more weight to the allegations of Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. despite what he described as a lack of supporting evidence.
Tupas said he had presented airline ticket bookings, passport photographs bearing stamps, and Facebook posts to challenge Gracioso’s claims.
He also disputed Matibag’s account of how the NBI became involved in his security concerns, saying NBI personnel led by Special Assistant for Mindanao Concerns Voltaire Rovira went to his residence in North Cotabato on the morning of September 29, 2026. BuyMaps
According to Tupas, he had requested a formal invitation after Matibag offered to place him under protective custody. However, he claimed that the document delivered to him that afternoon was a subpoena dated September 28, a day before the NBI personnel arrived at his home.
Tupas further alleged that the invitation to meet in Manila and the offer of protective custody were attempts to pressure him into becoming a witness against Vice President Sara Duterte in a plunder case linked to Gracioso’s allegations.
“It is now glaringly obvious that these were not genuine gestures for my safety, but rather deceptive maneuvers to trap me and force me into becoming a false witness,” Tupas said.
He maintained that the allegations against him were fabricated and denied any intention of serving as a witness in a case he believes is based on false claims.
“The NBI can file all the trumped-up charges they want against me, but I will never allow myself to be used as a witness for a case built on lies,” he added.
Tupas also questioned the NBI’s motives, saying the agency’s recommendation to file charges against him raised concerns about the fairness and credibility of its investigation.
The NBI’s recommendation is for the DOJ to act on the proposed charges. The recommendation alone does not establish criminal liability, and the allegations raised by Tupas remain his account of the events.
Jefry Tupas