Philippine Statistics Authority. INQUIRER FILE / STOCK IMAGE
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ought to cross-check and confirm the identities of those that signed the acknowledgment receipts (ARs) offered by the Workplace of the Vice President (OVP) for confidential expenditures, La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V stated on Wednesday.
In a press release, Ortega stated the PSA’s discovery that Mary Grace Piattos — the title that appeared on a few of OVP’s ARs — is just not a part of their stay start, marriage, and dying registry deserves an intensive view on the identities of different AR signatories.
“The revelation that Mary Grace Piattos is a fictitious id raises severe purple flags. The PSA should instantly audit and confirm all of the names showing within the ARs submitted by the OVP to the Fee on Audit (COA),” Ortega stated.
“Hindi puwedeng tumigil tayo sa isa lang (We can not cease at only one case). The PSA’s findings ought to function a springboard to conduct a deeper investigation. The Filipino individuals deserve transparency and accountability, particularly in using public funds,” Ortega identified.
On Tuesday, the Home of Representatives’ committee on good authorities and public accountability launched certifications from PSA stating that the title “Mary Grace Piattos” has no document with them — by way of start, marriage, and dying.
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The PSA additionally stated it may conduct a deeper search on the title and “confirm whether or not [a] civil registry doc is on the market within the database” if extra info, such because the title of her mother and father, amongst others, could be supplied.
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READ: No document of a ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ – PSA
Then in an interview with Radyo 630 on Wednesday, Assistant Nationwide Statistician Marizza Grande stated that in addition they can not discover an entry for a Kokoy Villamin — one other controversial id who signed the AR for OVP and the Division of Schooling (DepEd), again when Vice President Sara Duterte was nonetheless on the division’s helm.
Villamin’s title was seen on two confidential fund (CF) expense ARs — one for OVP and one for DepEd. Nonetheless, the identical particular person signed the ARs with completely different handwriting and signature kinds.
READ: Home probe: OVP, DepEd CFs obtained by identical man, completely different signatures
Ortega believes the problems involving Piattos and Villamin should not mere remoted instances.
“This isn’t simply an remoted case. If a fabricated title was used to justify hundreds of thousands of pesos in spending, it undermines the integrity of public accountability. It additionally raises the query: what number of extra pretend names could be buried in these ARs?” he requested.
“The certification from the PSA opens up a Pandora’s field of potential anomalies. If one title was falsified, it’s not unreasonable to suspect that different receipts may comprise fictitious names,” he stated. “Kung gawa-gawa si Mary Grace Piattos, ano pa ang totoo sa mga dokumentong ito? We have to be certain that each peso spent is accounted for and supported by truthful, verifiable data.”
(If Mary Grace Piattos is a fictitious persona, what else is true concerning these paperwork?)
Duterte and the OVP have been positioned on the recent seat after Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, throughout one of many previous hearings of the Home panel, famous that Mary Grace Piattos bears a primary title much like a espresso store, and a final title that could be a well-known potato chip model.
READ: OVP’s potential pretend receipts larger concern than ‘Piattos’ – Chua
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Nonetheless, good authorities committee chairperson and Manila third District Rep. Joel Chua stated final November 19 the likelihood that OVP fabricated the ARs is a much bigger downside than Piattos.
