Castro to Padilla: Heroes fought for country, not for confidential funds
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday rejected Sen. Robin Padilla’s comparison between the aliases used in confidential-fund receipts and the pseudonyms of Philippine heroes, saying the heroes fought for the country, while the others allegedly hid their identities for money.
Padilla, during the 19th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, reminded private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia that even heroes and revolutionaries used aliases in their time.
This comes as the prosecution is seemingly making the unusual names in the acknowledgement receipts documenting the confidential funds of Duterte a laughing matter, he said. The names include Antonio Pagong, Timon Andrew Pusa, Shane Ngitngit, Xuniso P. Bela, and others.
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In Thursday’s briefing, Palace press officer Claire Castro said she was not in a position to judge Padilla’s remarks and that the use or non-use of an alias is a non-issue for the prosecution.
However, she pointed out the difference between the circumstances of the heroes and the confidential fund recipients.
“Heroes of the past likely fought for the country without expecting payment. However, informants today do not seem willing to act without being paid,” the Palace official said.
“We know that the heroes of the past were real people, even when they used pseudonyms. Today, however, regarding the receipts that have been presented, we do not know if the individuals involved are real people or merely ghosts — or ghost beneficiaries,” she said.
Castro added that Padilla had the right to hold his own views and that the administration would not interfere with them.
But the administration also needs to present the truth so that the youth are not misled regarding the actual role that the heroes played in the past, she said.
READ: Padilla: I’ll keep defending Dutertes till Senate becomes impeachment court
At the closing remarks of the briefing, Castro appeared to take a jab at the alliance of Padilla and Duterte.
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Castro said, “And let us always remember: the new Filipino honors heroes—heroes who fought for legitimate education for the youth, rather than using history as a tool to cover up the wrongdoings of ‘a friend.'” /das
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