HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong has stated that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) possess the capability to verify whether individuals named Chel Diokno and Marian Rivera, who appear on acknowledgement receipts for confidential funds disbursed by Vice President Sara Duterte, are indeed the public figures with those names.
The names surfaced in acknowledgement receipts submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA) as part of the Vice President’s confidential funds report. Adiong emphasized the importance of this verification process, stating that it is crucial to determine whether the individuals listed are actually the well-known personalities or if there are individuals with similar names involved.
Adiong highlighted the role of the PSA and NBI in clarifying the matter, stating, “So I guess the agencies that can actually help us, the public, to really know whether there are really people with the same names are PSA and NBI. That’s why from the very start we requested the assistance of these agencies.”
The request to these agencies extends beyond simply verifying names; Adiong also confirmed that the PSA and NBI have been tasked with a forensic examination of the signatures on the acknowledgement receipts to determine if they match the signatures of the individuals in question.
This forensic analysis is intended to ensure the authenticity of the receipts and eliminate any possibility of forgery or manipulation.
Adiong acknowledged that a detailed examination of the entries containing the names of Diokno and Rivera has yet to be conducted.
The inclusion of these names came to light following viral reports alleging their involvement in receiving the confidential funds. The viral reports, along with the appearance of their names on the COA-submitted documents, have raised questions about the proper allocation and use of public funds, prompting the call for a thorough investigation and verification process.
The involvement of the PSA and NBI underscores the seriousness with which the government is treating these allegations.
The investigation is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the disbursement of the confidential funds and address concerns about transparency and accountability in government spending.
The findings of the PSA and NBI will play a crucial role in determining whether the individuals listed on the acknowledgement receipts are indeed the public figures sharing their names, or if there is another explanation for their appearance on the documents.
The public awaits the results of this investigation with considerable interest.
metrosundaily
