NAME GAME
THE House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has formally requested the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to verify the civil registry records of 677 more individuals listed as recipients of confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Vice President Sara Duterte.
Manila Representative Joel Chua, chairman of the committee, sent a letter to National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa after revelations that “Mary Grace Piattos” cited in acknowledgment receipts (ARs) submitted by the DepEd to the Commission on Audit (COA), does not appear in the PSA’s database.
PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande said their office found no records for another recipient of confidential fund, Kokoy Villamin.
At the last hearing of the committee, it was revealed that Villamin’s handwriting and signatures varied across multiple ARs from both the OVP and DepEd.
The Villamin report has not been officially submitted by the PSA to the panel.
The ARs were used to justify a total of P612.5 million in confidential fund expenditures—P500 million for the OVP spent from late 2022 to the third quarter of 2023, and P112.5 million for the DepEd in 2023.
The funds are central to the investigation by Chua’s panel, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, into allegations of fund mismanagement during Duterte’s leadership of both the OVP and DepEd.
“May we request for the verification of the Civil Registry Documents (birth, marriage, and death) of the names in the attached list relative to the investigation being conducted by the Committee,” Chua wrote in his letter dated Dec. 5.
The PSA had earlier issued a certification confirming no birth, marriage, or death records for Piattos, prompting significant concerns about the authenticity of the listed beneficiaries and the legitimacy of the disbursements.
“This is deeply troubling. If Mary Grace Piattos doesn’t exist in official records, we have to question whether the other 677 names are legitimate or if they are part of a wider scheme to misuse funds,” Chua said.
He added that verifying these names is a critical step in assessing the validity of the ARs and ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.
“If even one peso was spent improperly, it is our responsibility to find out and hold those responsible to account,” Chua emphasized.
The name “Mary Grace Piattos” gained public attention during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings because of its resemblance to a popular restaurant and snack brand, raising doubts about its authenticity. PSA verification confirmed no records exist for anyone with that name.
Following this finding, Chua formally asked the PSA to verify the identities of the remaining 677 individuals listed in the ARs.
Lawmakers identified discrepancies in the signatures linked to this individual across various documents, intensifying concerns about possible forgery.
The committee aims to determine whether the names in the ARs belong to real individuals or were fabricated to justify fund disbursements.
“Ensuring the authenticity of these recipients is crucial for maintaining transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. We are committed to uncovering the truth behind these transactions,” Chua said.
The PSA has been asked to expedite its verification process and submit both electronic and hard copies of the results to the committee.
The findings are expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of confidential funds allocated to the OVP and DepEd during Duterte’s leadership.
