Palace: ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ as impeachment witness a ‘strategy’

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Thursday described as a “strategy” the confidential payment recipient Mary Grace Piattos’ inclusion among the 57 witnesses listed by the prosecution panel for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Piattos, whose identity was confirmed nonexistent by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), is among the names used to sign acknowledgment receipts as supposed recipients of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President’s aid program.

READ: Poa on Mary Grace Piattos as prosecution’s witness: Their prerogative

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“That’s their strategy. It’s their strategy, but according to the PSA, there is no Mary Grace Piattos, so they might have a hard time finding who Mary Grace Piattos is. But that is their style or strategy,” Castro said at a briefing.

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Meanwhile, defense lawyer Michael Poa said the inclusion of Piattos in the list of witnesses is the prosecution panel’s prerogative.

“On our part, that is the prosecution’s prerogative as to whom they will present as witnesses. Definitely, if they are presented, we will be ready to cross-examine them,” Poa said in Filipino.

Asked if Piattos was also listed in the defense team’s pretrial brief, Poa said she was not.

The chief of staff of the Office of the Vice President, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, is also included in the witness list.

The prosecution said Lopez will be asked to take the witness stand to “prove that respondent misused and misappropriated confidential funds,” while Piattos will be asked to “testify on their alleged receipt of confidential funds.” /mr

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