La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega has called on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to thoroughly examine all the names listed on the acknowledgment receipts (ARs) submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
After confirming that “Mary Grace Piattos” is a fictitious name, Ortega has requested that the PSA investigate all the names on the ARs to uncover any other potentially fabricated identities.
“The revelation that Mary Grace Piattos is a fictitious identity raises serious red flags. The PSA must immediately audit and verify all the names appearing in the ARs submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit (COA),” Ortega said.
The PSA confirmed that Piattos does not appear in their birth, marriage, or death records, prompting further alarm, especially since Piattos’ name was listed as a signatory on an AR that facilitated the liquidation of confidential funds.
Ortega cautioned that this could be indicative of systemic fraud due to the use of a fictitious name.
“This isn’t just an isolated case. If a fabricated name was used to justify millions of pesos in spending, it undermines the integrity of public accountability. It also raises the question: How many more fake names might be buried in those ARs?” he said.
“Hindi puwedeng tumigil tayo sa isa lang. The PSA’s findings should serve as a springboard to conduct a deeper investigation. The Filipino people deserve transparency and accountability, especially in the use of public funds,” Ortega added.