HOUSE prosecutor Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Saturday challenged the defense to explain who actually received confidential funds if Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s supposed recipients, including “Mary Grace Piattos,” are found to be fictitious.
Ridon said the identities of Piattos, “Milky Secuya” and other individuals listed as recipients of confidential funds would be among the key issues when the House prosecution begins presenting evidence on the impeachment article accusing Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds and committing betrayal of public trust.
“Pag-uusapan po roon ‘yung Mary Grace Piattos, kung sino si Mary Grace Piattos, totoong tao ba si Mary Grace Piattos?” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
“Kung hindi totoong tao si Mary Grace Piattos, sino ‘yung kumuha ng pera na pinirmahan ni Mary Grace Piattos?” he added.
The prosecution is scheduled to begin presenting evidence on the confidential funds charge on July 22 after completing its presentation on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
The impeachment article alleges that Duterte allegedly misused a total of P612.5 million in confidential funds—P125 million spent by the OVP in the final 11 days of 2022, P375 million in OVP confidential funds in 2023, and P112.5 million in confidential funds spent by the Department of Education in 2023 while Duterte was secretary.
Ridon said the prosecution would present records from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that no birth, marriage or death records could be found for Piattos, “Milky Secuya” and several other names listed as recipients of confidential funds released by the OVP.
“Pag-uusapan doon ‘yung PSA report na wala pong pinanganak, namatay, kinasal na Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya, at iba pa hong mga pangalan doon po sa listahan ng recipients ng confidential funds ng [OVP],” he said.
He said the prosecution would also call a National Bureau of Investigation handwriting expert to testify on similarities among signatures appearing on acknowledgment receipts bearing different recipients’ names.
“Masasalang ho ulit doon ng NBI handwriting expert kung saan sinabi po roon na parang isang grupo, ilang mga tao lang ‘yung pumirma nung kalakhan ng mga acknowledgment receipts nitong mga confidential funds,” Ridon said.
The prosecution also plans to present Commission on Audit findings, including the notice of disallowance covering P73.287 million in confidential expenses incurred by the OVP in 2022.
Ridon said the disallowance had already become final at the level of the Commission on Audit Proper.
“Pinasosoli po ang Pangalawang Pangulo ng P73 million personal para dito po sa confidential funds misuse ng 2022,” he said.
Ridon said the prosecution’s evidence would ultimately allow the Senate impeachment court to determine whether the confidential funds were lawfully spent or whether their use constituted betrayal of public trust.
“Sa pinakadulo, ang pinag-uusapan ho rito, tama ho ba ‘yung paggamit ng pondo ng bayan sa confidential funds?” Ridon said.
“Betrayal of public trust po ba ‘yung ganitong pong tipo ng paggamit ng pondo ng bayan?”
