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Renalyn Ramirez - Philstar.com
June 25, 2026 | 3:50pm
Vice President Sara Duterte attends the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability's seventh hearing on Nov. 25, 2024. This is her second time appearing at the probe into her office's confidential funds, but the first time she took her oath after refusing on September 18, 2024.
House of Representatives / Released
MANILA, Philippines — The name "Mary Grace Piattos" has been included in the House prosecution panel's list of witnesses for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The name appears in the prosecution's pretrial brief, according to a report by Marianne Enriquez of ONE News on Thursday, June 25.
Piattos was allegedly among the recipients of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President, although questions have been raised over whether the person exists. The name appears to combine the name of a local cafe and a brand of potato chips.
The Philippine Statistics Authority had earlier said it had no birth, marriage or death records that could confirm the existence of a person named Mary Grace Piattos.
House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua (Manila) confirmed that the name was included in the prosecution's witness list for Article I of the impeachment case, which accuses Duterte of misusing confidential funds.
"Material witness po 'yan, lalong-lalo na sa confidential funds. Kung hindi siya lumutang, ibig sabihin bogus siya. Kung lumutang naman siya, pwede namin siyang ma-cross examine," Chua told dzBB Super Radyo.
(She is a material witness, especially on confidential funds. If she does not show up, it means she is bogus. If she shows up, we can cross-examine her.)
Chua said prosecutors have not had contact with anyone named Mary Grace Piattos who could prove the person's existence, but included the name as part of their trial strategy.
Evidence marking continues
The defense and House prosecutors are on the fifth day of the pretrial conference for the marking of evidence.
Senate impeachment court clerk Renato Bantug earlier said a pretrial order could be released on Monday or Tuesday next week if evidence marking ends Thursday.
Duterte's impeachment trial is set to begin on July 6.
Aside from the alleged misuse of confidential funds, the vice president also faces accusations of graft and corruption, unexplained wealth and grave threat over alleged assassination remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing.
