HOUSE trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong on Friday said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte should finally address one of the most persistent questions surrounding the confidential funds controversy: Who is Mary Grace Piattos, and does such a person actually exist?
Alonto Adiong made the statement as the House prosecution panel continued preparations for the formal impeachment trial before the Senate impeachment court, where it is expected to present witnesses and documentary evidence related to the alleged misuse of confidential funds, including questioned acknowledgment receipts.
Asked about the witnesses the prosecution intends to present, Alonto Adiong declined to discuss specific trial strategies but said government officials and personnel who may be called to testify understand their duty to comply with the lawful processes of the impeachment court.
“So they themselves know exactly their responsibility and obligation to heed the request coming from the court,” Alonto Adiong said during a press conference via Zoom.
He said the witnesses expected from government agencies would testify to the veracity of documents they brought during the House Committee on Justice proceedings.
Alonto Adiong said the Mary Grace Piattos issue goes directly to the question of whether names appearing in confidential fund documents correspond to real individuals or fictitious recipients.
He said agencies were asked to determine whether a person with that name exists, but the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported no matching civil registry record.
“Unfortunately the PSA came out with the report that there’s no record whatsoever na meron Mary Grace Piatos na pinanganak, nagkaroon ng marriage contract or whatever,” Alonto Adiong said.
The Lanao del Sur House leader said the prosecution’s task is to present the truth before the Senate impeachment court and the Filipino people.
“So in the matter of presentation of the articles of impeachment, ang sinasabi po natin katotohanan at pawang ang katotohanan lamang ay ilalatag natin sa Senado at Sambayan ng Pilipino,” he said.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution’s contention is that Mary Grace Piattos does not exist and has no record, which raises questions over the acknowledgement receipts connected to the confidential funds.
He stressed that the prosecution is not asking the public to rely on speculation. The proper venue to test the allegation is the impeachment court, where both sides may present evidence and witnesses.
For Alonto Adiong, it would now be useful for the defense to produce the person if it insists that Mary Grace Piattos is real.
“It would be better…lahat tayo excited makilala si Mary Grace Piattos dahil parati natin ito naririnig for the past years,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the allegation is that confidential funds were received under names that may have been made up, and the impeachment trial is the proper forum to determine the truth.
“The logical conclusion is that those who received the confidential funds indicated under the confidential funds are most probably made-up characters,” he said.
Alonto Adiong said the court should resolve the matter based on evidence.
“Let the court find out who really is Mary Grace Piattos,” Alonto Adiong stressed.
metrosundaily
