A second impeachment complaint is set to be filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, focusing on allegations of misuse of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds.
Central to the complaint are questions surrounding purportedly fake receipts and the mysterious recipient, “Mary Grace Piattos,” whom the Commission on Audit (COA) reported as non-existent.
70 complainants join forces
Bayan president Renato Reyes Jr. spearheaded the complaint, which is backed by around 70 individuals from various sectors, including youth leaders, teachers, government employees, health workers, and multi-sectoral organizations.
In a televised interview, Reyes detailed the scope of the allegations:
- “How were the confidential funds, amounting to more than half a billion pesos, utilized between December 2022 and the third quarter of 2023? Were the COA rules on fund reporting violated, and were questionable receipts, including the involvement of the alleged fictitious Mary Grace Piattos, used to liquidate expenses?”
Focus on confidential funds and liquidation practices
The complaint zeroes in on the disbursement and liquidation of over ₱500 million in confidential funds by the OVP. Specific points of contention include:
- Allegations that receipts tied to the liquidation of funds were fabricated.
- The COA discovered irregularities in financial reporting, including the name “Mary Grace Piattos,” who appears in documents as a fund recipient but whose identity cannot be verified.
Reyes stressed that these inconsistencies betray public trust, citing violations of the transparency and accountability expected from government officials.
The filing of this second complaint comes despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier public statements discouraging his allies in Congress from supporting impeachment proceedings. Duterte, a close ally of Marcos, has not yet issued a detailed public response to these allegations.
Public demand for transparency
The impeachment complaint has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with citizens demanding clarity regarding the use of public funds.
Advocates for government accountability argue that this case underscores the need for stricter monitoring of confidential fund allocations and spending.
Whether this second impeachment complaint gains traction in Congress remains to be seen. Still, it has already intensified scrutiny of the OVP’s financial practices and raised pressing questions about the transparency of government operations.