Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III clarified on Tuesday, September 1, that Philippine law permits pseudonyms under strict limitations, emphasizing that an alias requires a real individual behind it, unlike a fictitious name.
Referencing Republic Act No. 6085 during the Vice President Sara Duterte impeachment trial, Sotto detailed the statutory boundaries governing legal aliases.
“The general rule, Mr. President, that she mentioned is Republic Act 6085, regulating the use of aliases. It’s only allowed in the Philippines only for pseudonyms, solely for literary, cinema, television and other entertainment purposes,” Sotto said.
He drew a clear legal distinction based on whether an actual person exists behind the designated moniker.
“If there is a person behind the alias, then it is an alias,” he noted.
“If there is no person behind the name, it is a fictitious name or a fake name,” Sotto added.
Sotto submitted the manifestation after reviewing the impeachment court’s official journal regarding an exchange between Senator Robin Padilla and prosecution panel member Atty. Mae Divinagracia.
Addressing news reports that Divinagracia was repeatedly cut off, Sotto noted the transcript showed she answered most questions before being interrupted while discussing RA 6085.
Presiding officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero acknowledged Sotto’s clarification, which Sotto stated was made to ensure an accurate record for his colleagues and the public.