Vice President Sara Duterte has found herself in hot water after a press conference misstep that earned her the moniker “VP Nyo Lutang” from online critics. During the event, Duterte was asked about the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), but she appeared unable to recall its full name or meaning. She responded with visible confusion and eventually avoided the question altogether, stating, “I cannot explain confidential funds.” The query was connected to the controversial confidential funds utilized by her office.
A caption circulating on social media alongside the video of the incident read, “Kasalanan ng mga reporter to dapat binibigyan ng advance question, para nakakabisado, nagiging lutang tuloy, magagalit ang kabilang kubol sa inyo.” The viral clip and its critiques have sparked discussions about her preparedness in handling public and media inquiries.
Kasalanan ng mga Reporter to dapat binibigyan ng Advance Question, para nakaka bisado, nagiging lutang tuloy, magagalit Ang kabilang kubol sa inyo. pic.twitter.com/wTutma5AHT
— TagamasidSaBayan (@MadelVilla3054) December 12, 2024
Mystery of “Piattos” and Other Alleged Fund Recipients
In addition to the ELCAC confusion, Vice President Duterte refused to provide clarity to the House of Representatives regarding suspicious acknowledgment receipts (ARs) involving confidential funds from her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2022 and 2023. The receipts listed names like “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Chippy McDonalds,” raising questions about the legitimacy of the recipients.
When pressed by reporters during a thanksgiving lunch last Wednesday, Duterte dismissed the idea of explaining the issue, citing risks to intelligence operations. “No, I will not explain. I will not give an explanation because it will entail that I explain intelligence operations, which will compromise offices who do intelligence operations. So, no. No explanation will be given to the House of Representatives,” she declared.
PSA Verification Raises More Questions
Further fueling skepticism, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported last week that it found no records of birth, marriage, or death certificates for Mary Grace Piattos in its Civil Registry System. Over the weekend, the PSA also revealed that 60% of the 677 names listed in the ARs lacked any records in their database.
The House Blue Ribbon Committee, along with a quad committee, has since offered a ₱ 1 million reward to anyone who can confirm the existence of Piattos or present them before the House. However, Duterte neither confirmed nor denied if the names in the ARs were merely code names for real individuals, stating, “A confirmation might add to cases that will be filed against me.”
Authenticity of ARs in Question
Duterte distanced herself from the preparation of the ARs, which the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA) as part of their liquidation of confidential fund expenses. She even questioned the authenticity of the ARs being scrutinized by the House, suggesting they might not match the ones originally submitted to COA.
“I have always been cooperative with COA’s audit process,” Duterte insisted, countering accusations of evading accountability over the controversial funds.
Despite her denials, critics argue that the Vice President’s handling of these issues only deepens the public’s doubts about transparency and proper use of government resources. As the investigation unfolds, Duterte continues to face mounting pressure to address the allegations head-on.