FEBRUARY 4, 2026 — Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp says they’re ready to finally reveal the identity of “Mary Grace Piattos” if the Senate pushes through with an impeachment trial. This alias has become one of the most talked-about names in Philippine politics today, not because of who ‘she’ is, but because of what ‘she’ represents: the mystery behind P125 million in confidential funds allegedly spent in just 11 days.

Lawyer Michael Poa, Duterte’s spokesperson, said, “While it may be a cliché, we have been saying that we will answer it in the appropriate forum. This is the appropriate forum, the impeachment.” 

He explained that restrictions on disclosing confidential activities exist, but in the impeachment trial, the defense is prepared to finally unwrap the mystery.

What’s behind the name?

“Mary Grace Piattos” — a mashup of a beloved restaurant and a popular snack brand — sounds almost comical. But the allegations are no laughing matter. 

House Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun revealed last year that Piattos allegedly received the largest share of the OVP’s confidential funds in December 2022. The receipts? 158 acknowledgment slips attached to liquidation reports submitted to the Commission on Audit. Lawmakers suspect they were fabricated or rushed to justify the spending.

P125 million gone in less than two weeks. Eleven days. That’s not just fast — it’s lightning speed. And so the public has been asking, who exactly is Piattos?

Poa insists the defense team is ready, even naming the powerhouse lineup of lawyers — from Fortun Narvasa & Salazar to Mark Vinluan and Ralph Bodota. He stressed that preparations never stopped, even after the Supreme Court’s decision last year. And Duterte herself? According to Poa, she’s hands-on and unshaken.

“She even told us before, ‘if we get through this year, next year it will happen again. Maybe if we get through this year, maybe in 2027 it will happen again,’” he quipped.

On the other side, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima is firm. 

“First, we believe in the causes of the complainants. Second, we believe that there are sufficient grounds and impeachable offenses that could be proven during the hearings of the committee on justice,” she said. 

Her call was blunt: “Hold Sara Duterte accountable now, forthwith.”

This clash of narratives — Duterte’s camp saying “bring it on” and critics saying “about time” — is exactly why the Piattos controversy has captured public imagination. It’s not just about receipts or aliases. It’s about whether confidential funds, meant for sensitive operations, were misused or cleverly hidden behind ridiculous names.

So if the impeachment trial proceeds, will the public finally know who “Mary Grace Piattos” really is? Will this revelation clear Duterte’s name — or deepen suspicions of corruption?

After all, these are public funds, not Monopoly money. And when billions are at stake, every peso counts. The people have the right to demand transparency, especially when aliases like “Piattos” are used to mask transactions.

So let’s not be afraid to ask the hard questions. Is this impeachment trial the moment of truth? Or will it be yet another political circus where names are dropped, but accountability is dodged?

One thing’s certain, the identity of “Mary Grace Piattos” could either vindicate the Vice President or ignite a firestorm that will haunt her political career for years.

Eager to finally meet the real “Mary Grace Piattos”? Add in “Erwin Ewan,” “Chippy McDonald,” “Jay Kamote,” and “Miggy Mango,” and you’ve got the juiciest political eyeball this country’s seen in years!

(Image: Inday Sara Duterte | Facebook)