THE list of questionable names, allegedly recipients of the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte, is getting longer as the House of Representatives continue to look for additional evidence in preparation for the impeachment trial.

House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V exposed the inclusion of a so-called “Dodong Gang” and individuals named “Jay Kamote” and “Miggy Mango.”

The latest revelations deepen concerns over fraudulent confidential fund transactions under the Office of the Vice President (OVP), further bolstering the impeachment case against the country’s second-highest official.

Ortega said the discovery of more suspicious names highlights the extent of the alleged fraud, reinforcing what he now calls the “Budol Gang” of alleged fake beneficiaries used to justify the misuse of public funds.

Ortega revealed that at least five different individuals named “Dodong” appeared as fund recipients: Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok.

Also flagged were “Jay Kamote” and “Miggy Mango,” whose names resemble a root crop and a fruit rather than legitimate confidential fund recipients.

“Una, may chichirya at cellphone. Ngayon, may prutas at kamote na. At higit sa lahat, mukhang ‘Dodong Gang’ na ito! Hindi lang isa, hindi lang tatlo—limang Dodong ang nasa listahan,” Ortega said.

These names follow the earlier exposure of alleged fake recipients “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Pia Piatos-Lim,” and “Renan Piatos,” whose surnames eerily mimicked a snack brand, as well as “Xiaome Ocho,” which sounded like a well-known smartphone.

Like the previously flagged dubious names, “Jay Kamote,” “Miggy Mango,” and the five Dodongs have no birth, marriage, or death records at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), yet appeared in the OVP’s confidential fund reports.

The PSA’s findings have earlier exposed the questionable nature of the confidential fund disbursements under Vice President Duterte. Of the 1,992 supposed fund recipients, records show that 1,322 had no birth records, 1,456 had no marriage records, and 1,593 had no death records.

“Anong klaseng payroll ito? Imaginary? Hindi natin matukoy kung totoong tao ba ang mga tumanggap ng perang galing sa CIF,” Ortega pointed out.

The PSA certifications, dated December 8 and December 11, 2024, were submitted to the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability or the Blue Ribbon Committee and now form a key part of the impeachment case against the Vice President.

Ortega argued that these findings further strengthen the case for impeachment, which is centered on the questionable use of P612.5 million in confidential fund allocations under the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd), where Duterte previously served as Secretary.

“Hindi lang ito kapabayaan—ito ay isang maingat na planong paglustay sa pondo ng bayan. Peke ang mga pangalan, peke ang liquidation, at peke ang pananagutan,” Ortega said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas