Ridon: If ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ does not exist, who got the money?

House prosecutor and Akbayan representative Chel Diokno expressed support for the impeachment court's decision to grant the prosecution’s request to subpoena the bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio. This move comes as part of the ongoing proceedings on Article II of the impeachment complaint, which centers on allegations of unexplained wealth. The subpoena marks a critical step in the legal battle over the use of confidential funds, with the prosecution aiming to uncover potential misuse of public resources. The impeachment process has entered a new phase as the House prosecution prepares to present evidence related to the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds. These funds include P125 million spent by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the final 11 days of 2022, P375 million in OVP confidential funds in 2023, and P112.5 million in confidential funds spent by the Department of Education in 2023 while Duterte served as its secretary. The prosecution is set to begin its presentation on July 22, focusing on these financial discrepancies. Key figures in the case have emphasized the need for transparency regarding the recipients of these funds. Rep. Terry L. Ridon, a member of the House prosecution team, highlighted concerns over the authenticity of names such as “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Milky Secuya,” who are listed as possible beneficiaries of the confidential funds. During a recent appearance at the Saturday News Forum, Ridon questioned whether these individuals were real or if they were fabricated to obscure the true recipients of the money. He noted that the prosecution would rely on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which reportedly failed to find any official records, such as birth, marriage, or death certificates, for these names. In addition to examining the legitimacy of the recipients, the prosecution plans to introduce testimony from a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) handwriting expert. This expert will analyze similarities among signatures on acknowledgment receipts linked to different names, potentially revealing patterns of forgery or manipulation. The evidence will aim to establish whether the funds were distributed according to legitimate procedures or if there was deliberate misappropriation. The prosecution will also present findings from the Commission on Audit, which issued a notice of disallowance covering P73.287 million in confidential expenses incurred by the OVP in 2022. Ridon stated that this disallowance had already been finalized at the Commission on Audit Proper level, underscoring the seriousness of the financial irregularities under investigation. As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on determining whether the use of confidential funds violated the law or amounted to a betrayal of public trust. With the House prosecution poised to deliver its arguments, the Senate impeachment court will play a pivotal role in assessing the validity of the charges and deciding the fate of Vice President Duterte. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for accountability within the executive branch and the broader governance structure.