No ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ record on database - PSA

Metro Manila, Philippines – “Mary Grace Piattos,” who signed off as a recipient of substantial confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), has no official record, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

In a letter sent to the House committee on good government and public accountability dated Nov. 25, the PSA said Piattos has no birth, marriage, and death records on the database.

Lawmakers investigating the OVP fund use have singled out an acknowledgment receipt signed by a certain Mary Grace Piattos that reads like a restaurant and snack brand.

“If additional information such as the name of parents of the subject, date and place of the vital event can be provided, we can search further and be able to ascertain whether the civil registry document is available in the database,” National Statistician and Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said in the letter.

The committee, chaired by Manila Rep. Joel Chua, earlier said it will seek the help of the PSA to ascertain the identity of Piattos. Lawmakers also put up a P1-million reward for those who can give information on the controversial name.

The House noted that some of the OVP acknowledgement receipts had no names, no signatures, and no or wrong date.

NewsWatch Plus sought the comment of the OVP.

In a briefing, a number of lawmakers slammed the latest development on the Piattos identity.

“May konkretong patunay na hindi ginamit nang tama ang pera ng bayan,” said Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel in a press briefing.

[Translation: There’s concrete proof that public funds were used improperly.]

Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman said this has “serious complications” that “may have an element of fraud.”

She then noted this may form part of supporting evidence for the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre added that the offense may qualify as a betrayal of public trust.

“Ang pinaka konkretong batayan ng public trust…is paano ginagamit ang pondo ng bayan,” he said in a media briefing.

[Translation: The most concrete basis of public trust... is how public funds are used.]