Uncovering the OVP Confidential Fund Anomalies: The Case of 'Kamote' and 'Mango'

 Recent revelations surrounding the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) confidential fund disbursements have raised concerns about potential misuse of public funds. Investigations have uncovered unusual recipient names like "Jay Kamote" and "Miggy Mango" listed in the OVP's acknowledgment receipts submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA). (Source)

Dubious Recipients: Fruits, Snacks, and the 'Dodong Gang'

House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega exposed the existence of recipients with unusual names, including five individuals with the name "Dodong"—Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok. Ortega remarked, "First, we discovered names similar to junk food and cellphone brands. Now, there are fruits and sweet potato, as well as the 'Dodong Gang'—not only three but five Dodongs were on the list." (Source)

These discoveries follow previous findings where names resembling popular snack brands and electronic devices, such as "Mary Grace Piattos," "Pia Piatos-Lim," and "Xiaome Ocho," were found on the list of fund recipients.

PSA Investigation: Missing Birth, Marriage, and Death Records

A thorough examination by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), commissioned by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, investigated 1,992 names linked to the OVP's confidential fund expenditures. The findings were alarming:

• Birth Records: 1,322 individuals had no birth records in the PSA database.
• Marriage Records: 1,456 lacked marriage records, with only 536 potential matches.
• Death Records: 1,593 had no death records, with just 399 possible matches.

Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua noted, "If these names cannot be found in the civil registry, it strongly suggests they do not exist. The [receipts] may have been manufactured to justify the disbursement of confidential funds." (Source)

Echoes of the DepEd Investigation

The OVP's situation mirrors past irregularities within the Department of Education (DepEd), also previously led by Vice President Sara Duterte. An investigation of 677 names revealed that:

• 405 had no birth records
• 445 lacked marriage certificates
• 508 had no death certificates

Notably, the name "Mary Grace Piattos"—a combination of a popular restaurant and snack brand—sparked public skepticism over the authenticity of the listed recipients. (Source)

Calls for Accountability and Transparency

The emergence of these fictitious names in official documents has intensified calls for greater transparency in the handling of confidential funds. Ortega emphasized the gravity of the situation, questioning the legitimacy of the payroll and the actual recipients of the OVP's confidential and intelligence funds.

He argued that these findings strengthen the case for impeachment against Vice President Duterte, centered on the questionable use of ₱612.5 million in confidential fund allocations under the OVP and DepEd. (Source)

As the investigation continues, the public and lawmakers alike demand answers and accountability to ensure the proper use of public funds.