'Mary Grace Piattos' as impeachment trial witness? Palace says that's prosecution's strategy

Malacañang said Thursday the House of Representatives prosecution team might have a difficult time looking for a certain “Mary Grace Piattos” to present as a witness for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, considering that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has no records of such a person.

Regardless, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said that this is up to the prosecution panel's strategy.

“Strategy po nila ‘yun. Strategy nila. Pero kung ayon sa PSA ay walang Mary Grace Piattos, so baka mahirapan silang makita kung sino ‘yung Mary Grace Piattos,” she said at a Palace briefing.

(That's their strategy. But if according to the PSA there is no Mary Grace Piattos, it might be difficult for them to look for Mary Grace Piattos.)

“Pero nasa kanila po ‘yang style or strategy,” she added.

(But that is up to their style or strategy.)

The House prosecution team has listed the infamous “Mary Grace Piattos” as part of its witnesses for the impeachment trial, according to the pre-trial brief obtained by GMA News Online.

The name Mary Grace Piattos first gained prominence during the 2024 House good government and public accountability inquiry on the budget use of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education where acknowledgment receipts of confidential fund disbursements showed that she was one of those who received confidential funds from the Vice President’s offices.

In 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) informed the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that it has no record of "Mary Grace Piattos" in its database. — RSJ, GMA News