A startling revelation from the House good government and public accountability panel has uncovered that at least 405 out of 677 individuals who received confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Vice President Sara Duterte have no birth records on file with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Panel chairperson Rep. Joel Chua disclosed this during a hearing on Monday, citing data provided by the PSA. The list of 677 names, as indicated in acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP and DepEd to the Commission on Audit (COA), included individuals whose existence could not be verified.
“We submitted the 677 names listed in the acknowledgment receipts to the PSA, and on December 8, 2024, we received their response. Out of 677 individuals, 405 have no birth certificate or any record in the PSA database. This raises the possibility that these individuals are non-existent,” Chua explained.
Erroneous Records and Non-Legible Signatures
This revelation follows earlier findings from the Chua-led panel that the OVP and DepEd had submitted flawed acknowledgment receipts to COA. The receipts contained incorrect dates, illegible signatures, and other irregularities.
One example highlighted by the PSA was a recipient named Mary Grace Piattos, who, according to their database, has no record of birth, marriage, or death.
Vice President Denies Misuse of Funds
Vice President Sara Duterte has consistently denied allegations of misusing public funds. She described the ongoing investigation as a precursor to potential impeachment complaints.
Two impeachment complaints have already been filed against Duterte, citing alleged betrayal of public trust and improper use of confidential funds among the primary accusations.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The findings have intensified calls for greater scrutiny of the handling of confidential funds. Lawmakers and watchdog groups are urging government agencies to ensure proper documentation and accountability in the use of public resources.
The investigation into the irregularities continues, with the House panel expected to issue further recommendations to address the lapses uncovered in the OVP and DepEd’s financial records.