The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is probing the mysterious identity of “Mary Grace Piattos,” alleged to have received confidential funds linked to the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte. Records from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show no trace of Piattos, as she has no Certificate of Live Birth, Certificate of Marriage, or Certificate of Death in the agency’s Civil Registry System.
The PSA clarified that further details, such as parents’ names or the date and place of vital events, could help refine the search.
The controversy arose after Piattos’ name appeared on acknowledgment receipts for confidential funds allocated to Duterte’s offices, including the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2022-2023. Administration lawmakers doubt Piattos’ existence, and the House panel has offered a P1 million reward for credible information about her.
“Napaka-importante na malaman ang katotohanan,” said Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, emphasizing the need for individuals associated with the funds to appear in hearings.
Vice President Duterte faces scrutiny for alleged misuse of P775 million in confidential funds from her offices. The controversy deepened after her refusal to address the issue during budget hearings. While her proposed 2025 budget was slashed to P733 million, her office retains a P1.885-billion budget for 2024.
