House prosecutors have included “Mary Grace Piattos” among the witnesses they plan to present in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to their pre-trial brief.
Piattos, whose name figured prominently in congressional inquiries into the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds, is expected to testify on the alleged receipt of confidential funds.
The development comes despite the Philippine Statistics Authority’s earlier finding that it has no birth record for a person named “Mary Grace Piattos.” Duterte’s camp has previously suggested that the name may have been a pseudonym.
Lead House Impeachment Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro declined to confirm the identities of the witnesses but said that if “Mary Grace Piattos” is among those to be presented, the testimony would be significant in proving the prosecution’s case, particularly allegations involving fictitious recipients of confidential funds.
Also included in the prosecution’s witness list are former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang, OVP Chief of Staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, former aide Ramil Madriaga, Richard Babagay, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco, former OVP spokesperson Atty. Reynold Munsayac, and former DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa.
