‘Honeylet, Magellan,’ other celeb-sounding aliases linked to VP Sara’s ₱612.5-M confidential fund use
Metro Manila, Philippines - Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V on Sunday flagged more suspicious names tied to Vice President Sara Duterte’s ₱612.5M confidential funds—this time resembling celebrities and famous public figures.
Among the questionable names: Honeylet Camille Sy, Feonna Biong, Feonna Villegas, Fiona Ranitez, Ellen Magellan, Erwin Q. Ewan, Gary Tanada, and Joel Linangan.
“Hindi nakakatawa ang paulit-ulit na paggamit ng mga pekeng pangalan na parang hinugot mula sa sine at showbiz,” Ortega said in a statement.
[TRANSLATION: It’s no laughing matter that fake names—sounding like they came straight out of movies and showbiz—are being used repeatedly.]
“Public funds ang pinag-uusapan. Kung wala silang maipakitang ebidensya na tunay ang mga taong ito, ito mismo ang magiging matibay na ebidensya laban sa kanya sa impeachment trial.”
[TRANSLATION: We're talking about public funds here. If they can’t present evidence proving these people are real, that in itself will be strong evidence against her in the impeachment trial.]
According to Ortega, these names were submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA) as part of the OVP and DepEd’s liquidation reports—but none appear in official PSA records.
Four of the names were linked to the OVP’s ₱500 million confidential fund disbursements, specifically Honeylet Camille Sy, Feonna Biong, Feonna Villegas, and Joel Linangan, while the rest (Fiona Ranitez, Erwin Q. Ewan, Ellen Magellan, Gary Tanada) appeared under DepEd’s ₱112.5 million confidential spending.
This follows earlier revelations involving bizarre aliases like “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Jay Kamote,” and “Xiaome Ocho,” along with entire themed groups like “Team Amoy Asim” and “Team Grocery.”
“Kapag ganito karami ang kahina-hinalang pangalan, hindi ito simpleng typo o administrative error lamang,” he added.
[TRANSLATION: When there are this many suspicious names, this is not just a simple typo or administrative error.]
Based on the investigation, out of 1,992 supposed OVP fund recipients, 1,322 have no birth records, 1,456 have no marriage records, and 1,593 have no death records, he added. At DepEd, 405 out of 677 names also have no PSA trace.
While the use of aliases is allowed for security purposes in intel operations, Joint Circular 2015-01 requires sealed logs linking each alias to a real person. Ortega warned that failure to present this documentation could constitute misuse of public funds.
“Kung may alias, dapat may sealed journal sa vault. Kung wala, mananagot ang head of agency—dito, si VP Sara,” Ortega said.
Former COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza earlier stressed that aliases alone cannot justify government spending. Each name must be backed by traceable, verifiable records.
Ortega slammed Duterte’s continued silence.
“Sadly or disappointingly, ayaw naman magpaliwanag ni VP Sara… She has been asked several times, pero tikom ang bibig niya. Baka naman kasi hindi maipaliwanag ang misteryo ng Budol Gang?” Ortega asked.
[TRANSLATION: Sadly or disappointingly, Vice President Sara refuses to explain… She’s been asked several times, but she remains silent. Maybe it’s because the mystery of the ‘Budol Gang’ can’t be explained?]
The Senate impeachment trial against Duterte is set for June. Ortega said the names could be used as direct evidence of wrongdoing—unless the OVP proves otherwise.
Meanwhile, last Friday, Vice President Duterte announced that her mission in The Hague is complete and she is ready to return to the Philippines. This comes almost a month after her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested at the International Criminal Court's request over his controversial "war on drugs."
“Yes, everything’s organized with the lawyers…and there’s already a system for the family with regard to the visiting here in the detention units…So yes, my task is done. Well-organized,” she said to journalists.
She also said that she’s excited to go home and will just book the travel arrangements.
