Sara Duterte is ready to reveal the identity of the controversial “Mary Grace Piattos” if her impeachment trial in the Senate moves forward, her legal team said.

Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson for the vice president’s defense, emphasized that allegations against Duterte would be addressed in the proper forum — and that an impeachment trial is the appropriate venue.

“Maybe it sounds cliché, but we’ve always said it’s in the right forum. And this is probably it, if it really comes out,” Poa said in a radio interview on 3 February 2026.

“Here in the impeachment, if this is the right venue, maybe we can reveal what it is. And we’ve been preparing for that as part of the defense team,” he added.

The team also explained why details of Duterte’s confidential funds haven’t been made public, saying revealing them outside a formal setting could compromise sensitive government operations. The option to disclose them would be exercised only during impeachment proceedings.

“Of course, we want to answer all of that so we can prove that the accusations of corruption against the Vice President are baseless,” Poa said.

Who is Mary Grace Piattos?

The name and signature of a “Mary Grace Piattos” appeared on acknowledgment receipts linked to Duterte’s confidential funds from her time in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she headed from 2022 to 2023. Some documents also contained names resembling snack brands — like “Nova,” “Oishi” and “Tempura” — while a few receipts bore only initials.

Impeachment complaints

Duterte faced four impeachment complaints in 2024, citing graft, corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, alleged involvement in the drug war, and other high crimes. These complaints came from religious leaders, sectoral representatives, families of drug war victims, and other groups, and were later endorsed by pro-people organizations.

In February 2025, 215 House members signed a separate impeachment complaint, accusing Duterte of corruption, plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., involvement in extrajudicial killings, and incitement to insurrection and public disorder.

One year after the lifting of her impeachment ban, two new complaints were filed on 3 February, citing similar allegations.