SOLONS OFFER P1-M REWARD FOR ANY INFORMATION ON WHEREABOUTS OF MARY GRACE PIATTOS

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives have  offered a P1-million reward for anyone who can tell where Mary Grace Piattos is.

Piattos is a signatory to the acknowledgement receipt dated Dec. 30, 2022 tied to millions of pesos in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

In a press conference on Monday, Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun bared that several House members contributed to raise a P1 million reward to determine the identity of a certain “Mary Grace Piattos.”

Khonghun said they want the investigation of the Blue Ribbon Committee to finish for them to file their committee report. 

“Kami sa Blue Ribbon Committee at Quad Committee, aming binibigyan ng importansya na kailangan dumating ‘yung mga ipinatawag natin, lalung-lalo na pati ‘yung mga pumirma sa acknowledgment receipts,” he said .

“Kaya nag-usap-usap kami, nagboluntaryo, na magbibigay kami ng pabuya na P1 milyon sa sinumang makakapagsabi o makakapagbigay ng impormasyon kung sino si Mary Grace Piattos,”  Khonghun said.

Ortega said the House has been fair in tackling issues involving the OVP.

“So it’s about time na that they attend and explain what are these anomalies about,” said Ortega.

Piattos, whose first name is similar to a coffee chop while her last name is a famous potato chip brand, has not shown up at the House hearings.

She was the signatory of several acknowledgment receipts for the OVP’s expenditures, particularly involving the use of the confidential fund.

“Si Mary Grace Piattos kasi ‘yung may pinakamalaking nakuha dun eh. 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,” Khonghun said.

The Blue Ribbon Committee or the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is investigating the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in government funds by Vice President Sara Duterte when she was also secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Khonghun and Ortega said the P1-million bounty underscores the importance of resolving the issue and ensuring accountability in government spending.