Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team will have to unveil the supposed individual that is “Mary Grace Piattos” before the respondent's actual impeachment trial, if she is to be presented as a witness.

Thus, said House prosecution panel spokesperson Lanao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday, June 10, as both the prosecution and defense prepare for the June 18 pre-trial conference of the high-stakes case.

During pre-trial, both camps are expected to identify their evidence, witnesses, and trial parameters ahead of the proceedings.

“So basically, ilalatag dyan kung ano ‘yung magiging general flow ng trial. Parang ‘yun ang pagkakasulat doon sa notice ng korte,” Adiong explained.

(So basically, what will be laid out there is the general flow of the trial. That’s how it is written in the court’s notice.)

The controversy surrounding Piattos is tied to allegations that Vice President Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential funds. In previous House hearings, lawmakers previously questioned names and acknowledgment receipts (ARs) allegedly used in liquidation documents.

“Kasi kung meron talaga silang ilalabas doon na Mary Grace Piattos, it would be better for them. Para at least, kasi we’re looking for clarity naman din,” Adiong pointed out.

(If they really have something to present there about Mary Grace Piattos, it would be better for them. At least, because we are also looking for clarity.)

Mary Grace Piattos is an amalgam of a name of a popular local cafe and a bag of potato chips. For this reason, House members have long suspected that the confidential funds recipient is fictitious.

Adiong said the prosecution’s position from the House proceedings was to allow the defense to confront the allegations in the proper forum.

If a person claiming to be Piattos is presented, the Mindanao congressman said the defense will have to account for the signature appearing in the confidential fund documents.

“Pero kung meron silang maipro-produce na Mary Grace Piattos, much better for the public din, ‘di ba? Pero dapat ang ano doon, ‘yung Mary Grace Piatos na lalabas doon, dapat ‘yung pirma niya, eksaktong ‘yung pirma niya doon sa confidential files, ‘yung [AR],” Adiong noted.

(If they can produce Mary Grace Piattos, that would be much better for the public, right? But what’s important there is that the Mary Grace Piattos who comes out must have her signature exactly matching the one in the confidential files, the AR.)

He also raised the case of Kokoy Villamin, another questionable name linked to ARs as an example of why forensic scrutiny may become necessary during trial.

“Pero problema kay Kokoy Villamin, dalawa kasi ‘yung AR na pinirmahan niya, magkaiba ‘yung pirma. Pero pareho ng pangalan,” noted Adiong.

(The problem with Kokoy Villamin is that he signed two ARs, but the signatures are different even though the name is the same.)

He said the impeachment court may have to test signatures and supporting documents if the defense relies on individuals whose names appeared in the confidential fund records.