Vice President Sara Duterte remained tight-lipped Wednesday regarding allegations that some recipients of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds may be fabricated, including a suspiciously named entity, “Mary Grace Piattos.”
The name, which lawmakers claim resembles a mix of a restaurant and a popular snack brand, surfaced on an acknowledgment receipt tied to OVP expenses.
Duterte distanced herself from the controversy, stating that many financial documents donโt cross her desk. โI have no comment on that because I have not seen the acknowledgment receipt theyโre referring to. Not all documents go through me,โ she said during a chance interview in Butuan City.
She further noted uncertainty about how the OVPโs receipts and auditing documents reached the House of Representatives, adding, โI cannot comment, especially since we donโt know how the acknowledgment receipts or our submissions to the Commission on Audit were processed and who is handling the documents.โ
Lawmakers Pursue Leads on โMary Grace Piattosโ
The House of Representatives intensified its investigation by offering a โฑ1 million reward for anyone who can identify “Mary Grace Piattos.” Lawmakers described the entity as potentially “fictitious” and hinted at the possibility of doctored acknowledgment receipts.
To bolster the probe, the House panel is considering enlisting a penmanship expert to analyze similarities in handwriting and ink patterns across receipts, raising suspicions of forgery.
The investigation extends beyond this case, with the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability scrutinizing Duterteโs expenditures during her time as vice president. Allegations include claims from the Department of Education (DepEd) that cash-filled envelopes were distributed during Duterteโs tenure as Education secretary.
Duterte Denies Allegations, Calls Investigation Politically Motivated
Duterte has staunchly denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the investigation as a politically charged attack. โThis is nothing more than political persecution,โ she said, doubling down on her assertion that no funds were misused under her leadership.
The controversy surrounding the OVPโs confidential funds and the mysterious “Mary Grace Piattos” continues to grow, with public and political scrutiny intensifying. As the investigation unfolds, Duterte faces increasing pressure to address lingering questions about accountability and transparency in her officeโs expenditures.
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