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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ''Hindi ko na papatulan': Ortega dismisses Padilla's 'off-topic' remarks on heroes' aliases in VP Duterte trial

''Hindi ko na papatulan': Ortega dismisses Padilla's 'off-topic' remarks on heroes' aliases in VP Duterte trial

Published Aug 28, 2026 11:42 pm
La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (left), Senator Robin Padilla (PPAB, Facebook)
La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (left), Senator Robin Padilla (PPAB, Facebook)


House Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V described as "off-topic" the controversial interjection made by Senator-judge Robin Padilla during the last Senate impeachment hearing wherein he brought up the aliases of Philippine revolution figures.
“Parang wala namang bayaning chichirya ’yung pangalan. Parang nakakainsulto naman po ’yun,” Ortega said during an online press briefing Friday, Aug. 28.
(There doesn't seem to be a hero named after junk food. That seems insulting.)
Last Wednesday, Aug. 26, Padilla tried to liken the rather questionable-sounding names appearing in impeachment trial respondent Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential fund records to the nom de guerre or assumed names of Filipino heroes and revolutionaries.
Padilla cited Jose Rizal’s “Dimasalang,” Emilio Jacinto’s “Tikbalang,” Andres Bonifacio’s “Maypagasa” and Marcelo H. del Pilar’s “Siling Labuyo” as examples of pseudonyms used during the revolutionary period.
The actor-turned-senator also cited “Marcial Bonifacio", the name used by former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. when he returned to the Philippines from exile in 1983.
For Ortega, this had nothing to do with Duterte's ongoing impeachment trial.
“Off-topic po ’yan. Siguro hindi ko na po papatulan, saka magre-react. Sobrang off-topic po sa pinag-uusapan sa impeachment,” said the Ilocano.
(That’s off-topic. I think I won’t bother responding or reacting. It’s completely off-topic from what’s being discussed in the impeachment.)
Padilla was earlier criticized for making interjections or manifestations that didn't appear to be relevant or were connected at all to the impeachment trial.
The deputy speaker's mention of "junk food" was a reference to Duterte confidential fund recipients “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Nova", “Oishi” and “Tempura". These names prompted lawmakers back in 2024 to collectively refer to some of the supposed recipients as the “Chichirya gang" during a House investigation.
Respondent Duterte is being accused of misuing P612.5 million worth of confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd). To liquidate the funds, these agencies submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA) acknowledgment receipts (ARs) that bore the alleged fictitious names.
The amount consists of P500 million released to the OVP and P112.5 million to the DepEd)while Duterte headed both agencies.
The prosecution has clarified on Wednesday that it has not claimed the questioned names were aliases, stressing that the real issue is whether or not the identities of the supposed recipients can be established and the use of public funds properly accounted for.
It further alleges that irregularities in the supporting documents, along with other testimonial and documentary evidence, form part of the confidential fund charge against Duterte.

Related Tags

Robin Padilla Paolo Ortega Heroes Aliases impeachment Sara Duterte confidential funds Mary Grace Piattos
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