THE House prosecution panel on Thursday said the spotlight will soon shift to the defense to explain the identities of controversial recipients of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s confidential funds, including the widely known “Mary Grace Piattos,” as the impeachment trial prepares to move to the next article of impeachment.
The prosecution is expected to begin presenting evidence on Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5-million confidential funds after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testifies next week.
Matibag will be the last witness on the impeachment charge involving Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
House prosecutor Joel Chua of Manila said the prosecution expects Filipinos—and even the prosecution itself—to closely watch how the defense accounts for the disputed names.
“So lahat naman tayo nag-aabang kung ano magiging tugon dito ng defense. Hindi lang po ‘yung mga kababayan natin ang nag-aabang dito, maski kami rin po sa prosecution ay nag-aabang din,” Chua said during a press briefing.
He said the impeachment trial would finally give Duterte’s camp the opportunity to explain whether the listed recipients were real individuals or fictitious names used to support the liquidation of confidential funds.
“Ako naniniwala, inaabangan din ito ng ating mga kababayan kung itong mga pangalan bang ito ay totoo o nag-e-exist ba ito o hindi o ginamit lamang ito para pagtakpan ‘yung liquidation nila ng mga pera,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said the House investigation had already gone through the process of verifying the identities of the supposed recipients.
“Isa-isa nating kinuha sa PSA kung nag-e-exist yung mga ’yan,” Ortega said, referring to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Halos dalawang daan, tatlong daan po yata ang hindi nag-e-exist doon sa mga pangalan na ’yan,” he added.
Ortega said the Senate impeachment trial now provides the proper forum to determine whether those names represented legitimate recipients.
“Andito na tayo. Ito na ‘yung perfect stage, ito na ‘yung pinakamahalagang part. Sana mailabas po lahat ng mga ito,” he said.
Prosecution counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan ended the discussion with a lighthearted jab at one of the most recognizable names linked to the confidential funds controversy.
“Sa dami ng kinain kong ensaymada at tsaka cheese rolls sa lahat ng Mary Grace outlets na ’yan, wala daw silang kilalang Mary Grace Piattos,” Kapunan said.
“So tingnan natin, baka biglang lumabas,” she added.
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