MANILA, Philippines — Malacanang on Thursday said the heroes of the past, who used "aliases," were real people and did not seek monetary reward to defend the country from foreign control.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Claire Castro stressed this in response to the comparison made by Sen. Robinhood Padilla between heroes who used "pseudonyms" to fight the Spanish rulers with the informers of the Office of the Vice President who also used aliases.
She noted that Padilla compared the revolutionary heroes, including the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr., to the likes of Mary Grace Piattos, Andy Lim, Pagong [Turtle], Pusa [Cat], and Belat during the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly on the issue of how she used her confidential funds.
"We can state the facts on how they differ. We will not pass judgment; we will let our countrymen and the senators judge this for themselves," the Palace press officer said.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Castro said, "We can see the difference between the heroes of the past and the names of these alleged aliases found in these receipts."
"Perhaps the heroes of the past fought for the country without any compensation. However, the informants and informers who are helping at present seem as though they will not act without being paid," she said in Filipino.
"And the heroes of the past, even though they used pseudonyms, we knew they were real people. Today, with the receipts that have been shown, we don't know if they are real people or if they are 'ghost' beneficiaries," Castro stressed.
She added, "So, for the awareness of the youth, if we are to compare the two: the heroes of the past fought for the country and hid their identities for the sake of the nation, but some people today hide their identities for the sake of money."
