THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been tapped to verify whether individuals named “Chel Diokno” and “Marian Rivera” — names identical to those of prominent public figures — truly exist and are involved in the disbursement of confidential and intelligence funds from the Office of the Vice President.
According to House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, the request for verification aims to determine if these names indeed belong to real individuals, and whether they are distinct from public figures with the same names, following viral reports about their inclusion in questionable acknowledgment receipts of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.
“In fact, the agencies that are tasked and also has the capacity to really
assess and verify whether a certain Chel Diokno is indeed apart from the Chel Diokno that we’d be popularly know. Merong isang Chel Diokno ‘yan na nag-exist na informant, intelligence informant, possible intelligence informant ay totoo na naka-receive na acknowledgement receipts or payment,” Adiong said in an interview Sunday over dzBB.
“So I guess the agencies that can actually help us, the public, to really know whether may talagang tao na ganun din ng pangalan ay PSA at NBI. That’s why from the very start alam mo naman we requested the assistance of these agencies,” he added.
Adiong said many acknowledgement receipts have not been included during then investigation of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
“Nung time na nagkaroon kami ng investigation dun sa Good Government, hindi lahat pa nung mga acknowledgement receipts ay nakita namin or nasiyasat namin ng maayos,” Adiong said.
“In fact, just a portion of the acknowledgement receipts were at that time available to the Good Government that we were able to see yung discrepancies no.”
He said the documents included suspicious entries and have shown discrepancies.
“Iyung mga pirma, mga pangalan na pagkapare-pareho pero makakaibang lugar, may mga pirma na hindi makakapareho pero isa ‘yung pangalan,” he added.
“As to the new revelations, kaya nga namin hiningi yung assistance ng PSA at NBI kasi marami pang acknowledgement receipts at that time na hindi pa natin na nakitita,” Adiong said.
He explained the purpose of involving these agencies in ascertaining the authenticity of the names in the acknowledgement receipts for the confidential funds.
“Just to unburden for example and also to give justice and fairness to the ones who are involved in the investigation whose names were constantly popping up. Just to give them also just to give due process and also fairness, kailangan din natin ang ahensya na merong kakayanan at credibility at meron silang mandato para tingnan kung totoo itong mga pangalan na ito ay existing.”
“That’s why we requested PSA and the NBI to also verify not only yung mga kuwestyonableng acknowledgement receipts but to examine also forensically if this signature specimen are actually signed by one and the same person,” he said.
Adiong admitted they had not yet reviewed the entries bearing the names of Diokno and Rivera. “So hindi pa namin inabot ‘yan. In fact, ako nga kagabi nakita kung ay mga reports that apparently they are to individual recipient informant. I don’t know kung informant ito sila kasi sa prosecution team na ito.”
He clarified his role and said he is not a member of the prosecution panel of the House of Representatives.
“I’m not a member of the prosecution team. I don’t know kung ito bang mga acknowledgement receipts but I presume that they are informants kasi ‘yun naman ginamitan nung acknowledgement receipts, confidential funds.”
“So apparently two individuals who coincidentally have the same names with a celebrity and a renowned lawyer who is now to become part of the 20th Congress,” Adiong continued.
“Which to my mind medyo nakakatawa dahil mukhang ang pangalan naman ‘Chel’ ay hindi siya common,” he added.
“And then lagyan mo pa ng apilyedo ng Diokno, mukhang hindi rin sya common. At ‘yung Marian Rivera, posibleng may Marian Rivera dyan kasi, I mean, with due respect naman kaya sa batikang na actress, Marian naman is talagang common naman na name ‘yan. And even the last name, the family name Rivera, is very common Filipino surname,” Adiong said.
“But as to the other one, ‘Chel Diokno’ nung naka medyo natawa, to be honest with you,” Adiong said.
He also responded to concerns about Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima joining the prosecution team, given that the former senator has a beef with the Dutertes.
“Wala naman siyang conflict dahil ang sinasabi naman sa rules, sa aming rules, ay kailangan miyembro… kailangan miyembro ng House of Representatives.”
“So si Congressman Leila de Lima naman ay miyembro, magiging member ng House of Representatives sa 20th Congress,” he said.
“Pangalawa, allowed naman din na kumuha ang House prosecution ng House of Representatives ng mga private lawyers,” Adiong said.
About the Author
