Zambales 1st District Representative Jefferson Khonghun alleged irregularities in the acknowledgment receipts pertaining to the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
In an exclusive interview with DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Wednesday, Khonghun stated that the OVP insists the legitimacy of the acknowledgment receipts the agency submitted.
However, according to the House panel investigating on the alleged misuse of OVP's confidential funds, the receipts are deemed fictitious.
"Ang problema until now walang lumalabas na katauhan na tulad ni Mary Grace Piattos, so masasabi natin na ‘yung mga acknowledgement receipt na ginamit ng Office of the Vice President para mag-liquidate ng kanyang confidential fund is mga peke na mga katauhan," Khonghun said.
The name Mary Grace Piattos is among those listed as signatories on the OVP's acknowledgment receipts, but to this day, the Committee has no idea who this individual is.
In light of this, the Committee has announced a reward of P1 million for anyone who can provide information or help identify the individual, so that she can be invited to appear at the hearing.
"Si Mary Grace Piattos hinahanap pa natin, hindi natin siya makita. Sa ngayon, pinapaimbestigahan na rin natin pati ‘yung penmanship," said Khonghun.
Additionally, the committee invited the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to examine the penmanship on the receipts, as the committee suspects that a single individual is responsible for writing all the acknowledgment receipts.
The Committee also pointed out that there was evident misuse of confidential funds by both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, particularly the P125 million disbursed by the OVP in just 11 days during Christmas time.
The committee's primary challenge is the failure of key personnel, such as Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez and Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, to attend the hearings.
"Maraming beses na po natin silang ipinatawag ngunit palagi po silang may excuse," Khonghun said.
"Ang sa atin lang ay gusto nating matapos ‘yung hearing natin. Gusto natin makapagpasa o makagawa ng Committee report para at least matapos na itong usapin tungkol sa OVP confidential fund," he added.
If the invited individuals still fail to attend, despite having been issued subpoenas, the committee will be forced to issue a contempt order against them to have them arrested and brought before the committee for questioning.
"Kung wala naman talagang tinatago ang opisina ng Vice President patungkol sa liquidation ng pondo ay wala naman silang dapat iwasan dahil talagang ang gusto lang po natin malaman is ‘yung katotohanan, accountability, and transparency," said Khonghun.
At present, Gina Acosta faces contempt, while Zuleika Lopez has been granted another opportunity to appear at today’s hearing.
