The identity of “Mary Grace Piattos,” the controversial name that appeared in confidential fund liquidation documents of the Office of the Vice President, is expected to be tested when Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial begins on July 6.
House impeachment trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the Senate impeachment court is the proper venue to determine whether Mary Grace Piattos is a real person or a fictitious identity.
“The only way to establish that is through a proper forum, which is being agreed by both sides, and the proper forum is the court. Let the court find out who really is Mary Grace Piattos,” Adiong said in a press briefing.
The name surfaced during congressional inquiries into the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds after it appeared on acknowledgment receipts submitted to liquidate expenses. It later became one of the issues raised in the impeachment case against Duterte.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that it found no birth, marriage, or death record under the name Mary Grace Piattos, a finding cited by prosecutors in arguing that the name may refer to a fictitious person.
Adiong said the prosecution included Mary Grace Piattos in its witness list to allow anyone claiming that identity to appear before the impeachment court and testify.
“Our contention is that, and confirmed by the PSA, that Mary Grace Piattos does not exist and has no record,” Adiong said.
House prosecution legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the trial gives any real person using that name the opportunity to come forward.
“This is the opportunity for her, if she actually exists, to come forward and say, ‘here I am, I’m presenting myself before the impeachment court ready to testify,’” Tolosa said.
“If she does not appear, this just supports our position that she’s a made-up person,” he added.
Adiong said public attention will now shift to whether anyone claiming to be Mary Grace Piattos will appear before the Senate impeachment court once the trial begins.