Aside from the famous "Mary Grace Piattos," more food-related names appeared on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) controversial confidential funds receipts, a lawmaker said on Sunday, March 16.
According to House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Representative Francisco Paolo Ortega V, many unusual names were found on the receipts, such as "Jay Kamote" and "Miggy Mango."
Different variations of the name "Dodong" also appeared, including Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok.
"Una, may chichirya at cellphone. Ngayon, may prutas at kamote na. At higit sa lahat, mukhang ‘Dodong Gang’ na ito! Hindi lang isa, hindi lang tatlo—limang Dodong ang nasa listahan," he said.
"Anong klaseng payroll ito? Imaginary? Hindi natin matukoy kung totoong tao ba ang mga tumanggap ng perang galing sa CIF," he added.
The congressman stated that Miggy Mango, Jay Kamote, and the five Dodongs have no birth, marriage, or death records with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Ortega noted that these names may be used to strengthen the charges against the Vice President for the questionable use of P612.5 million in confidential fund allocations under the OVP and Department of Education.
Recently, a "Xiaome Ocho" also appeared among the alleged beneficiaries of the funds. Xiaome is known to be a brand of phone.
"Hindi lang ito kapabayaan—ito ay isang maingat na planong paglustay sa pondo ng bayan. Peke ang mga pangalan, peke ang liquidation, at peke ang pananagutan," Ortega said.
The PSA's findings have previously exposed the questionable nature of the confidential fund disbursements under Vice President Duterte. Of the 1,992 supposed fund recipients, records show that 1,322 had no birth records, 1,456 had no marriage records, and 1,593 had no death records.
The "misuse" of Duterte's office's confidential funds is part of the case file in the lower house regarding her impeachment.
Duterte earlier denied the accusations and stressed that the House's move was politically motivated. She has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the impeachment complaint.
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero previously stated that the case hearing for Duterte will begin on July 30.
Escudero has laid out the proposed calendar of activities for the impeachment trial to his colleagues in the Senate, with copies also sent to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Vice President Duterte.
