HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V on Thursday said he was not surprised by the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) confirmation that “Mary Grace Piattos,” an alleged recipient of confidential funds from Vice President Sara Duterte’s office, does not exist.
Ortega described the finding as “expected,” given the dubious nature of the names linked to the disbursement of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte.
“Hindi na tayo nagulat dun sa Mary Grace Piattos,” Ortega said during a press conference at the House of Representatives.
The PSA’s confirmation has also rendered the P1-million reward offered by lawmakers for information about Piattos unclaimed.
“Sayang lang po ‘yung pabuya, hindi na makukuha kasi wala naman po talagang Mary Grace Piattos,” Ortega said, as he emphasized the futility of pursuing what he called an obvious fabrication.
The name “Mary Grace Piattos,” which appears to combine a popular restaurant chain and a local snack brand, has sparked public ridicule since it surfaced in acknowledgment receipts (ARs) submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit.
These receipts were used by the OVP to account for P500 million in confidential funds spent during the last quarter of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023. This amount is separate from the P112.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the DepEd during Duterte’s tenure as its secretary.
Ortega noted that the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, is still awaiting verification of other names listed in the ARs, including “Kokoy Villamin.”
Villamin’s signatures, which appear on multiple ARs from the OVP and DepEd, have raised suspicions due to inconsistencies.
“Si Kokoy na lang ang isa pang inaantay din. Pero with the development nga po ni Mary Grace Piattos, malamang sa malamang baka ganun din po ‘yung resulta,” Ortega said, suggesting that other names might also turn out to be fictitious.
To recall, Ortega called on the PSA to conduct a full audit of all names included in the ARs submitted by the OVP and DepEd to the COA to justify its confidential spending.
The PSA has already issued a certification confirming that no birth, marriage, or death records exist for Piattos.
Ortega cautioned that the use of a fabricated identity in official records could indicate systemic fraud, casting doubt on the integrity of the financial transactions tied to the OVP’s confidential funds.
The House Blue Ribbon Committee continues its investigation, reviewing around 4,000 ARs submitted by the OVP and DepEd.
The inquiry focuses on allegations that Vice President Duterte mishandled a total or P612.5 million in confidential funds, potentially involving irregularities in the disbursement and liquidation process.
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