Senator‑judge Tito Sotto underscored that an alias without a real person behind it is a fictitious name, effectively shutting down arguments raised in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte over the use of aliases to justify confidential fund spending.
Opening the 20th day of proceedings, Sotto revisited private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia’s stalled explanation of Republic Act 6085, after Senator‑judge Robin Padilla had earlier asked whether she knew that national heroes used aliases.
Sotto clarified that RA 6085 permits aliases only as pseudonyms or stage names for film, television, radio, books, and the arts.
“If there is a person behind the alias, then it is an alias. If there is no person behind the name, it is a fictitious name or a fake name,” he said in a manifestation.
He added that the law regulates aliases solely for literary and entertainment purposes.
The trial examined acknowledgement receipts signed by individuals with dubious names, which former OVP disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified were aliases. # (RRN)
