MANILA — The Liberal Party rejected comparisons between the use of aliases by Filipino historical figures and the use of aliases in acknowledgment receipts linked to confidential fund transactions being examined in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

The party issued the statement after Senator-judge Robin Padilla asked private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia during the trial if she knew “Marcial Bonifacio,” an alias associated with the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Senator-judge Bam Aquino clarified that while “Marcial Bonifacio” was indeed an alias used by Ninoy Aquino, the former senator did not have confidential funds during his government service and did not appear in any of the acknowledgment receipts being discussed in the trial.

In its statement addressed to Padilla, the Liberal Party said the use of aliases by historical figures was not inherently controversial.

It cited aliases used by several Philippine historical figures, including Jose Rizal’s “Dimasalang,” Andres Bonifacio’s “Agapito Bagumbayan,” Emilio Jacinto’s “Pingkian,” Marcelo H. del Pilar’s “Plaridel,” Antonio Luna’s “Taga-Ilog,” Emilio Aguinaldo’s “Magdalo,” and Ninoy Aquino’s “Marcial Bonifacio.”

“Walang issue sa pagkakaroon nila ng mga alyas. Marami sa kanila ay gumamit ng mga pseudonym habang nagsusulat, kumikilos, at nakikipaglaban para sa kalayaan at kasarinlan ng bayan,” the party said.

The Liberal Party, however, drew a distinction between historical figures using aliases in their activities and the use of aliases in financial transactions involving public funds.

“Pero ang tanong lang: Nagtago ba sila sa kanilang mga alyas para makatanggap ng confidential funds?” the party said.

“Ginamit ba nila ang kanilang mga alyas para pumirma sa acknowledgement receipts ng pondo ng bayan?” it added.

The party said the historical figures used aliases while fighting for the country and not to evade accountability.

“Ang mga bayani ay gumamit ng mga alyas habang nakikipaglaban para sa bayan. Hindi para magtago sa pananagutan,” it said.

“Iyan ang malaking pagkakaiba.”