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Advocates Philippines
Chua Throws 'Mary Grace Piattos' Challenge At VP Sara Camp
Photo credit: Congress PH
One of the most talked-about names linked to the confidential funds controversy surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte is back in the spotlight, with House prosecutor and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua challenging the vice president’s defense team to produce the person known as “Mary Grace Piattos” during the upcoming impeachment trial.
The challenge comes as both the prosecution and defense continue preparing their witness lists and evidence ahead of Senate proceedings, where allegations involving the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds are expected to take center stage.
“Mary Grace Piattos” became a subject of controversy after the name appeared on acknowledgment receipts used to liquidate confidential funds. The issue gained national attention after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that it could not find a birth record matching the name, fueling questions about whether the recipient actually exists.
Chua said the prosecution included Mary Grace Piattos on its witness list because the individual is considered a material witness in the case.
“Material witness po ’yan, lalong-lalo na sa confidential funds. So kung lumutang po o hindi siya lumutang, ibig sabihin bogus siya. Kung lumutang naman siya, pwede namin siyang ma-cross examine,” Chua said.
According to Chua, the prosecution does not claim to have direct communication with the person but wants to determine whether anyone identifying themselves as Mary Grace Piattos will come forward during the trial.
“Yes. Titingnan natin kung may lulutang na Mary Grace Piattos,” he said.
The lawmaker also pushed back against suggestions that the defense might question why the name was included on the prosecution’s witness list. He argued that since the name appeared on documents tied to confidential fund transactions, the burden falls on those who submitted the records to explain the identity of the recipient.
“Di kwestyunin nila. Eh nandun siya sa isa sa mga nakatanggap ng confidential fund eh. Bakit nila kukwestyunin eh nilagay nila dun, di ba may pangalan siya dun, Mary Grace Piattos? They should produce kasi kung hindi nila mapo-produce ’yun eh bogus ’yun,” Chua said.
The controversy traces back to congressional hearings conducted in 2023 and 2024, when lawmakers scrutinized confidential and intelligence fund expenditures of several government agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as secretary. During those hearings, questions were raised over acknowledgment receipts bearing names such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” which critics described as unusual and potentially fictitious.
Chua also dismissed suggestions that the name may have been used as a code or alias.
The challenge comes as both the prosecution and defense continue preparing their witness lists and evidence ahead of Senate proceedings, where allegations involving the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds are expected to take center stage.
“Mary Grace Piattos” became a subject of controversy after the name appeared on acknowledgment receipts used to liquidate confidential funds. The issue gained national attention after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that it could not find a birth record matching the name, fueling questions about whether the recipient actually exists.
Chua said the prosecution included Mary Grace Piattos on its witness list because the individual is considered a material witness in the case.
“Material witness po ’yan, lalong-lalo na sa confidential funds. So kung lumutang po o hindi siya lumutang, ibig sabihin bogus siya. Kung lumutang naman siya, pwede namin siyang ma-cross examine,” Chua said.
According to Chua, the prosecution does not claim to have direct communication with the person but wants to determine whether anyone identifying themselves as Mary Grace Piattos will come forward during the trial.
“Yes. Titingnan natin kung may lulutang na Mary Grace Piattos,” he said.
The lawmaker also pushed back against suggestions that the defense might question why the name was included on the prosecution’s witness list. He argued that since the name appeared on documents tied to confidential fund transactions, the burden falls on those who submitted the records to explain the identity of the recipient.
“Di kwestyunin nila. Eh nandun siya sa isa sa mga nakatanggap ng confidential fund eh. Bakit nila kukwestyunin eh nilagay nila dun, di ba may pangalan siya dun, Mary Grace Piattos? They should produce kasi kung hindi nila mapo-produce ’yun eh bogus ’yun,” Chua said.
The controversy traces back to congressional hearings conducted in 2023 and 2024, when lawmakers scrutinized confidential and intelligence fund expenditures of several government agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as secretary. During those hearings, questions were raised over acknowledgment receipts bearing names such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” which critics described as unusual and potentially fictitious.
Chua also dismissed suggestions that the name may have been used as a code or alias.
Jun 25, 2026
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