Days before the celebration of National Heroes Day, Sen. Robinhood Padilla compared Philippine heroes to questionable recipients of millions of pesos in public funds.
Interjecting at the impeachment trial of his ally Vice President Sara Duterte last week, Padilla sought to liken the use of aliases by Benigno Aquino Jr. and the heroes of the Philippine revolution against Spain to Duterte’s use of aliases such as Mary Grace Piattos, Chippy McDonald, Jay Kamote, Antonio Pagong and Timon Andrew Pusa as alleged recipients of half a billion pesos in confidential funds.
Grins and teetering at the Senate initially greeted Padilla’s question on whether the private prosecution lawyer knew of “Marcial Bonifacio.” This was the alias used by Ninoy Aquino when he returned to Manila from exile in the United States. Padilla asked: would Aquino have been killed if he had received an intelligence report about the plan to assassinate him?
In fact Aquino received intel from the highest source – then first lady Imelda Marcos herself – who warned him about a plot to kill him if he returned. But Aquino chose to ignore the warning in hopes of leading the opposition to the Marcos dictatorship.
Those who fought for freedom from Spanish rule, through propaganda and later through armed revolt, also used aliases, not to receive millions in public funds, but to avoid being arrested by the colonizers. Comparing them with the likes of Mary Grace Piattos and Chippy McDonald insults their heroism.
Malacañang press officer Claire Castro put it well: the Philippines’ heroes used aliases “para sa bayan” or for the nation; the Office of the Vice President used aliases “para sa bayad” or for the money.
National hero Jose Rizal, who used several pseudonyms and aliases and whose execution inspired the revolution, wanted Filipinos to be educated first and fully prepared for independence from Spain.
People are wondering whether Padilla raised the issue of the heroes’ aliases deliberately for gaslighting on behalf of Duterte, or because he truly did not know better. To his critics, the senator has been consistent in his response, which boils down to, I may be uninformed, but I topped the Senate race in 2022.
It shows how much more work lies ahead in the advocacy of Jose Rizal, and the other heroes who gave their lives for the country.