Auditor: ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ got P70,000 medicine as ‘reward’
A state auditor testified that the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines failed to properly liquidate P500 million in confidential funds. The testimony highlighted irregular expenditures, including a reward payment to an individual named 'Mary Grace Piattos'.
Why it matters
The testimony provides evidence for an ongoing impeachment trial, raising significant questions about government transparency and the misuse of public funds.
MANILA, Philippines - Day 11 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial was marked by the testimony of state auditor Roderick Wamil, who flagged discrepancies and non-compliance of Duterte's office on the liquidation of confidential funds amounting to P500 million.
Wamil, formerly with the Commission on Audit intelligence and confidential funds unit, testified before the Senate court on the failure of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to comply with COA regulations on the utilization and liquidation of the confidential funds.
Among other things, he said P70,000 for medicine was given as a "reward" to "Mary Grace Piattos," while other expenditures included food assistance and furniture without the official receipts for procurement.
Under direct examination by private lawyer Lorna Kapunan, who is under the supervision of the House prosecutors, Wamil cited the OVP's violation of Joint Circular 2015-01 providing guidelines for such utilization.
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