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Advocates Philippines
Adiong Challenges Duterte Camp To Present 'Mary Grace Piattos'
Photo credit: Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong
House prosecutors are expecting Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp to reveal early on whether it plans to present a person named “Mary Grace Piattos” as a witness in the upcoming impeachment trial.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson for the House prosecution panel, said the defense would have to disclose the identity during the pretrial stage if it intends to use the name in court.
Speaking on *Memo* on Bilyonaryo News Channel on Wednesday, Adiong said the House panel is already preparing its own witnesses and evidence ahead of the June 18 pretrial conference, where both sides are expected to lay down the framework of the case.
“Sa House prosecution team, handa naman i-submit kasi ‘yan ‘yung markings of evidence, pati na rin ‘yung pag-submit ng magiging potential na mga witnesses. We expect also na may mga objection from the other side,” Alonto Adiong noted.
According to him, the pretrial conference will determine how the impeachment court will handle witness disclosures, documentary evidence, and possible objections before the trial formally begins.
“So basically, ilalatag dyan kung ano ‘yung magiging general flow ng trial. Parang ‘yun ang pagkakasulat doon sa notice ng korte,” Alonto Adiong explained.
The name “Mary Grace Piattos” surfaced during congressional inquiries into the alleged misuse of confidential funds. Lawmakers had questioned several names and acknowledgment receipts that appeared in liquidation documents.
“Kasi kung meron talaga silang ilalabas doon na Mary Grace Piatos, it would be better for them. Para at least, kasi we’re looking for clarity naman din,” Alonto Adiong pointed out.
He stressed that the House prosecutors have maintained from the beginning that the impeachment process is meant to provide the defense with an opportunity to answer the allegations.
“In fact, ang House prosecution team from the very beginning, during the confirmation hearing, sinasabi naman natin there’s no judgment here. So, in fact, yung sinasabi natin na there’s an established probable cause para ‘yung mga allegation na ito ay ma-counter ng depensa,” Alonto Adiong stressed.
Should someone claiming to be Mary Grace Piattos appear in court, Adiong said that person’s signature would have to match those found in the confidential fund acknowledgment receipts.
“Pero kung meron silang maipro-produce na Mary Grace Piatos, much better for the public din, ‘di ba? Pero dapat ang ano doon, ‘yung Mary Grace Piatos na lalabas doon, dapat ‘yung pirma niya, eksaktong ‘yung pirma niya doon sa confidential files, ‘yung acknowledgement receipt,” Alonto Adiong said.
He also cited the case of “Kokoy Villamin,” another name linked to the receipts, noting that two documents attributed to him carried different signatures.
“Pero problema kay Kokoy Villamin, dalawa kasi ‘yung acknowledgement receipt na pinirmahan niya, magkaiba ‘yung pirma. Pero pareho ng pangalan,” Alonto Adiong added.
Adiong said forensic experts may eventually be called upon to examine signatures and other supporting documents if the defense relies on individuals whose names appeared in the records.
“So, mahirap ‘yun mag-produce ng witness na magsasabi ako si Kokoy Villamin kasi of course, nandun din yung mga experts para forensically to test ‘yung specimen ng pirma,” Alonto Adiong said.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to hold its pretrial conference on June 18, a key step that will set the rules and procedures before the trial proper against Vice President Duterte moves forward.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson for the House prosecution panel, said the defense would have to disclose the identity during the pretrial stage if it intends to use the name in court.
Speaking on *Memo* on Bilyonaryo News Channel on Wednesday, Adiong said the House panel is already preparing its own witnesses and evidence ahead of the June 18 pretrial conference, where both sides are expected to lay down the framework of the case.
“Sa House prosecution team, handa naman i-submit kasi ‘yan ‘yung markings of evidence, pati na rin ‘yung pag-submit ng magiging potential na mga witnesses. We expect also na may mga objection from the other side,” Alonto Adiong noted.
According to him, the pretrial conference will determine how the impeachment court will handle witness disclosures, documentary evidence, and possible objections before the trial formally begins.
“So basically, ilalatag dyan kung ano ‘yung magiging general flow ng trial. Parang ‘yun ang pagkakasulat doon sa notice ng korte,” Alonto Adiong explained.
The name “Mary Grace Piattos” surfaced during congressional inquiries into the alleged misuse of confidential funds. Lawmakers had questioned several names and acknowledgment receipts that appeared in liquidation documents.
“Kasi kung meron talaga silang ilalabas doon na Mary Grace Piatos, it would be better for them. Para at least, kasi we’re looking for clarity naman din,” Alonto Adiong pointed out.
He stressed that the House prosecutors have maintained from the beginning that the impeachment process is meant to provide the defense with an opportunity to answer the allegations.
“In fact, ang House prosecution team from the very beginning, during the confirmation hearing, sinasabi naman natin there’s no judgment here. So, in fact, yung sinasabi natin na there’s an established probable cause para ‘yung mga allegation na ito ay ma-counter ng depensa,” Alonto Adiong stressed.
Should someone claiming to be Mary Grace Piattos appear in court, Adiong said that person’s signature would have to match those found in the confidential fund acknowledgment receipts.
“Pero kung meron silang maipro-produce na Mary Grace Piatos, much better for the public din, ‘di ba? Pero dapat ang ano doon, ‘yung Mary Grace Piatos na lalabas doon, dapat ‘yung pirma niya, eksaktong ‘yung pirma niya doon sa confidential files, ‘yung acknowledgement receipt,” Alonto Adiong said.
He also cited the case of “Kokoy Villamin,” another name linked to the receipts, noting that two documents attributed to him carried different signatures.
“Pero problema kay Kokoy Villamin, dalawa kasi ‘yung acknowledgement receipt na pinirmahan niya, magkaiba ‘yung pirma. Pero pareho ng pangalan,” Alonto Adiong added.
Adiong said forensic experts may eventually be called upon to examine signatures and other supporting documents if the defense relies on individuals whose names appeared in the records.
“So, mahirap ‘yun mag-produce ng witness na magsasabi ako si Kokoy Villamin kasi of course, nandun din yung mga experts para forensically to test ‘yung specimen ng pirma,” Alonto Adiong said.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to hold its pretrial conference on June 18, a key step that will set the rules and procedures before the trial proper against Vice President Duterte moves forward.
Jun 10, 2026
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