Unmasking the real identity behind the name “Mary Grace Piattos,” which lawmakers said received hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), is among the goals of the House once a key witness takes the stand in the impending impeachment deliberations against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

House Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list said Sunday that he hopes detained former vice presidential aide Ramil Madriaga can shed light on the real individuals behind the now-infamous names, led by “Mary Grace Piattos.”

Madriaga’s testimony could be crucial in clarifying who “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Kokoy Villamin” and other questionable names actually are, after lawmakers flagged supposed beneficiaries linked to some P612 million in confidential funds, Ridon said.

“If Mr. Madriaga has knowledge in connection with the bogus names, it is time to lay it down to clear it as it is not being answered by Vice President Duterte,” Ridon said.

On Saturday, Atty. Raymund Palad said Madriaga is prepared to face the impeachment process against Duterte and is willing to appear before Congress, the Senate or the Office of the Ombudsman once formally summoned.

“Alam niya kasi nag-aral naman ng abogasya ’yan. Alam niya the fact na nag-execute siya ng affidavit, puwede siyang ipatawag sa Kongreso, sa Senado o sa Ombudsman,” Palad, lawyer for Madriaga from the Palad, Lauron Palad and Te (PLPT) Law Office, said during the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City. “So yung willingness niya, yes. Basta maka-receive siya ng subpoena o ipatawag, mag-a-appear po siya.”

Ridon said Madriaga, described as an insider familiar with the handling of confidential funds, may help explain how such names ended up in liquidation documents submitted by the OVP and DepEd to the Commission on Audit.

“If Mr. Madriaga knows the process, the handlers, and the real persons behind these entries, then his account can help close the gaps that continue to trouble this issue,” Ridon said.

The controversial “Mary Grace Piattos” issue was earlier flagged by the late former police general and veteran lawmaker Romeo Acop of Antipolo City.

During the previous 19th Congress, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union disclosed a list of questionable names allegedly linked to confidential funds, including Honeylet Camille Sy, Feonna Biong, Feonna Villegas, Joel Linangan, Fiona Ranitez, Erwin Q. Ewan, Ellen Magellan and Gary Tanada.

Also flagged in what lawmakers described as the alleged “Budol Gang” were Kokoy Villamin, Denise Tanya Escudero, Beth Revilla, Janice Marie Revilla, Diane Maple Lapid, John A. Lapid Jr., Clarisse Hontiveros, Kristine Applegate Estrada, Renan Piatos, Pia Piatos-Lim, Xiaome Ocho, Jay Kamote, Miggy Mango, Beverly Claire Pampano, Mico Harina, Patty Ting, Ralph Josh Bacon, Sala Casim, Cannor Adrian Contis, Kris Solon, Paul M. Solon, Amoy Liu, Fernan Amuy, Joug De Asim and others.

Ridon said many of the names flagged by the House do not match any official birth, marriage or death records from the Philippine Statistics Authority, raising further doubts about the legitimacy of the listed beneficiaries.

“Public funds come with public accountability. If these names are bogus, then someone must answer for how they were created, approved and liquidated,” Ridon said.

Vice President Duterte faced two impeachment complaints last Monday, with critics citing allegations made by Madriaga.

The complaints cited Madriaga’s claim that he allegedly transported large sums of money to several individuals upon the instruction of the country’s second-highest official. They also accused Duterte of having received campaign funds during the 2022 elections from drug lords and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil said Friday that her office formally transmitted the two impeachment complaints against Duterte to the Office of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, in accordance with the Constitution and House rules.

“Upon receipt and verification of the complaints and their accompanying endorsements, the Office of the Secretary General forwarded the documents to the Office of the Speaker for appropriate action,” Garafil said.

The first verified impeachment complaint was filed by members of the Makabayan Coalition and endorsed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co.

The second impeachment complaint was filed by representatives of progressive organizations and civil society groups and endorsed by Party-list Representatives Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal and Perci Cendaña of Akbayan.