By Filane Mikee Cervantes

MANILA – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has confirmed that it has no civil registry records for a certain Mary Grace Piattos, a name linked to liquidation documents from the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
In a certification dated Nov. 25, 2024, addressed to House Good Government and Public Accountability Committee Chair Joel Chua of Manila’s Third District, the PSA stated that its Civil Registry System database yielded negative records of birth, marriage or death for Piattos.
The House panel released the documents on Tuesday.
The verification process is part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into questionable acknowledgment receipts tied to the alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds by the OVP.
Mary Grace Piattos, a combination of a popular restaurant and a local snack brand, has become a focal point of congressional scrutiny amid suspicions it was fabricated.
The PSA clarified that further verification could be conducted with additional information, such as the subject’s parents’ names or the date and place of vital events.
The certification was signed by PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa.
The House panel uncovered around 158 acknowledgment receipts attached to the liquidation reports submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit.
Lawmakers believe the receipts were fabricated or hastily prepared to justify how the confidential funds were allegedly spent in just 11 days.
Chua’s committee flagged discrepancies in the receipts, including missing signatures, mismatched dates and similarities in handwriting. Some receipts reportedly lacked basic details such as dates or names.
House leaders have offered a PHP1-million reward for information on Mary Grace Piattos.
Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun of Zambales’ First District earlier explained that Piattos allegedly received the largest share of confidential funds disbursed by the OVP in December 2022.
“Si Mary Grace Piattos kasi ‘yung may pinakamalaking nakuha dun eh (Mary Grace Piattos got the biggest share from it),” Khonghun said. “We want to set an example, we want to know the truth. Kasi it follows na ‘pag wala si Mary Grace Piattos, sigurado halos lahat ng tao na nandun is fictitious na (Because it follows if Mary Grace Piattos does not exist, then almost everyone else is fictitious).”
In a chance interview at Malacañan Palace in Manila, Chua said the committee would also verify the authenticity of other recipients’ identities of the OVP’s confidential funds.
This, as Chua said it is possible that the OVP used “ghost employees” to divert the funds.
“Parang. Parang bogus ‘yung acknowledgment receipt na lumalabas. Parang ganun ‘yung nangyayari (More likely. It seems like the acknowledgment receipt that’s coming out is bogus. It seems like that’s what is happening),” he said, when asked if he thinks the OVP funds were misused.
“So, siguro ang magiging next step namin is pati ‘yung iba ipapa-check na rin namin, ‘yung ibang names na madidiskubre pa namin (So, maybe our next step will be to check the others as well, the other names that we discover),” Chua added.
Aside from Piattos, other names similar to popular snack brands such as “Nova,” “Oishi,” and “Tempura” were also reflected in other acknowledgment receipts.
Chua said the House Committee on Good Government and Accountability is also awaiting the results of the National Bureau of Investigation’s verification of signatures of “Kokoy Villamon” that appeared in multiple acknowledgment receipts with varying handwriting and signatures.
‘Disturbing’
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun said individuals behind the fake “Mary Grace Piattos” should be held accountable.
“Paano aasahan ng taumbayan ang ating sistema kung ganitong klaseng kwento ang ginagamit? Panahon na para managot ang mga may sala (How can the people trust our system if this kind of story is being used? It is time for those responsible to be held accountable),” Khonghun said.
“Kaya pala walang nag-claim ng PHP1 million reward kasi peke talaga (That’s why no one claimed the PHP1 million reward because it was really fake).”
Members of the House of Representatives earlier raised a PHP1 million reward for anyone who can tell the whereabouts of Piattos.
“Nakakabahala na umabot tayo sa ganitong level ng kasinungalingan. Sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na dapat nagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon, imbento lang pala ang Mary Grace Piattos (It is disturbing that we reached this level of lies. For government officials who should be giving correct information, it appeared that Mary Grace Piattos was just an invention),” Khonghun said. (with Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos/Zaldy De Layola/PNA)