UNUSUAL names evoking food and everyday items — such as “Pampano,” “Keso,” and “Kamote” — appeared prominently as payees in acknowledgment receipts presented on Tuesday during the 14th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan laid out additional documents covering the third quarter of 2023, showing ₱125 million in confidential funds disbursed by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) from July 14 to September 30, 2023. The presentation took place as Commission on Audit auditor Xylene del Campo took the witness stand to validate the records.
The receipts listed payments categorized as “purchase of information,” “supplies, materials and equipment for confidential operations,” and “reward payment.”
Among the entries were Beverly Claire Pampano receiving ₱130,000, Matthew N. Keso ₱250,000, Jay Kamote ₱200,000, and Miggy Mango ₱50,000. Other payees included Xiaome Ocho, Salah Casim, Nova Santos, and Honeylet Camille Sy, with amounts ranging from ₱50,000 to ₱350,000. The names themselves drew immediate attention for their seemingly fictitious or playful nature, raising questions about the true identities of the recipients.
Kapunan openly questioned the authenticity of the entries, translating “Keso” as “cheese” and remarking “Siomai?” after displaying Xiaome Ocho’s receipt. Beyond the food-themed aliases, she pointed out that several names — including Keso, Escudero, Honeylet, and Estrada — closely resemble those of well‑known political figures, suggesting they may be false identities used to conceal who actually received the funds. The prosecution argued that the pattern strongly indicates the money was not going to genuine intelligence sources or suppliers, but may have been diverted to unauthorized individuals.
The unusual payees and vague descriptions have become central to the prosecution’s case, illustrating what they describe as a lack of transparency and proper documentation in the OVP’s handling of confidential funds. With no further details provided about the nature of the information purchased, the supplies acquired, or the services rendered, the prosecution contends that these irregularities alone justify the articles of impeachment. The trial continues as auditors are expected to face cross‑examination over the validity and completeness of the disbursement records.
metrosundaily
