P1-million reward for ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ info

Metro Manila, Philippines — House lawmakers have offered a P1-million reward to anyone who could provide information on a certain Mary Grace Piattos, a name in the acknowledgement receipt of Vice President Sara Duterte’s office.

House representatives pointed out that the name is a seeming combination of a restaurant and local snack brand.

“So, nag-usap-usap kami, boluntaryo, na magbibigay kami ng pabuya na P1 milyon sa kung sinumang makakapagsabi o makakapagbigay ng impormasyon kung sino si Mary Grace Piattos,” Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun said in a press conference on Monday, Nov. 18.

[Translation: We talked, voluntarily, to give a bounty of P1 million to anyone who can say or provide information on who Mary Grace Piattos is.]

“We want to set an example, we want to know the truth. Kasi it follows na ‘pag wala si Mary Grace Piattos, sigurado halos lahat ng tao na nandu’n is fictitious na,” he added.

[Translation: If there is no Mary Grace Piattos, it is guaranteed that almost all the names there are fictitious.]

Khonghun said Mary Grace Piattos got the lion’s share of Duterte's fund payment.

The House good government and public accountability is looking into the P612.5-million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Education Department that she previously headed.

Duterte only attended the panel’s first hearing, which she did not finish. She was personally invited to the next hearing on Nov. 20, but she later on said that she will be absent.

“We’ve been lenient enough na magbigay ng imbitasyon. May orders na for the resource person. It’s about time they attend and explain ang mga anomalya na nangyayari,” La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega said.

[Translation: We’ve been lenient enough in inviting them. There were orders issued to the resource persons. It’s about time they attend and explain the anomalies that happened.]

Last week, four OVP officials were ordered detained for refusing to attend the panel’s hearing.

The committee will order the arrest of Zuleika Lopez, the OVP chief of staff, if she will not be present in the next round of inquiry.

NewsWatch Plus reached out to the OVP for a comment but has yet to receive a response.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.