The Tamesis
December 9, 2024
Manila – Vice President Sara Duterte’s claims that she was the target of assassination threats are “false,” according to an earlier statement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Assistant Majority Leader Jude Ardrey similarly said in a statement on Sunday: “The so-called assassination threat against Vice President Duterte is false — completely baseless and baseless.”
“They are as fabricated as the names 'Mary Grace Piatos' and 'Kokoy Villamin', which were used to justify the alleged misuse of confidential funds,” he added .
READ: PNP has no information on 'credible threat' to Vice President Sara Duterte's life
READ: NBI seeks cooperation from Vice President Sara Duterte in investigation of threats against her life
Adre was referring to the list of confidential fund recipients from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte.
Asidere noted that threats against Duterte's life were first heard from the vice president himself. He was referring to Duterte's remarks that she had spoken to someone who would kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Marcos if she was assassinated. Martin Romualz.
On the other hand, the names of “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Kokoy Villamin” appeared on the acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP and the Department of Education to the Board of Auditors to account for the disbursement of confidential funds totaling P612.5 million.
“The investigation found no official records for Mary Grace Piatos and Kokoy Villamin, and the Philippine Statistics Authority confirmed that they do not exist in its civil registry, raising suspicions that the names were fabricated,” the statement read. of. “
“The name Mary Grace Piattos happens to combine a popular restaurant and a snack brand, while the receipt signature for 'Kokoy Villamin' shows inconsistencies 's handwriting has become a symbol of alleged misuse of public funds,” it added.
Likewise, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman dismissed Duterte’s claims.
“Looking at the video of her threatening the president and the video of her claiming her life was threatened, my interpretation of that is that it was asking for help. Maybe he was asking for sympathy from his supporters. To me, that's not There is. I don't think there is a real threat to Vice President Sara's life,” Roman said in a mixture of English and Filipino.
However, she noted that Marcos did receive threats.
On December 2 last year, the Philippine National Police stated that it had not received any “credible” threats against Duterte's life.
The next day, December 3, AFP also stated that it had not received any “confirmation” or information about Duterte's statement.
But the police and military have pledged they will protect the vice president.
