'Kamote,' 'Mango,' 'Dodong gang': More questionable OVP confidential fund payees bared

Metro Manila, Philippines - The House leadership revealed that more questionable names received confidential funds from the office of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega said they have discovered suspicious names such as Jay Kamote, Miggy Mango, Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok.

Ortega noted that the names have no birth, marriage, and death records with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Una, may chichirya at cellphone. Ngayon, may prutas at kamote na. At higit sa lahat, mukhang ‘Dodong Gang’ na ito! Hindi lang isa, hindi lang tatlo—limang Dodong ang nasa listahan,” the La Union congressman said in a statement on Sunday, March 16.

[Translation: First, there were snack and cellphone brands. Now, there is a fruit and a sweet potato. Most of all, there seems to be a “Dodong Gang!” Not one, not two–but five Dodongs in the list.]

“Hindi lang ito kapabayaan—ito ay isang maingat na planong paglustay sa pondo ng bayan. Peke ang mga pangalan, peke ang liquidation, at peke ang pananagutan,” he added.

[Translation: This is not just negligence–this is a well-planned expenditure of public funds. Fake names, fake liquidation, and fake accountability.]

Lawmakers have bared the confidential fund payees Mary Grace Piattos, Pia Piatos-Lim, and Renan Piatos, whose surnames were similar to a snack brand. Ortega also earlier exposed Xiaome Ocho, a name seemingly similar to a cellphone brand.

The PSA earlier pointed out that about a thousand confidential fund recipients have no birth registrations in its system.

READ: Almost two-thirds of OVP confidential fund payees have no birth records - PSA

Calling it the “Budol Gang,” Ortega said the discovery of the dubious payees show the extent of Duterte’s supposed fraud.

He also said that the revelations strengthen the impeachment case against Duterte.

The House good government and public accountability has been investigating Duterte’s P612.5-million confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, which she previously headed.