Solon questions Estrada’s use of screen name Joseph Estrada

He may be popularly known as Joseph Estrada, but the President cannot legally use that alias, Jose Velarde or any other name without a court order, an opposition congressman said yesterday.

Rep. Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr. (Lakas, Negros Occidental) said if the President does not have legal authority to use his screen name, he could be charged with falsification of public documents which he has been signing as Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Unless he has that authority, the Chief Executive should use his real name, Jose Marcelo Ejercito, he said.

Lozada cited the provisions of Commonwealth Act 142, issued on Nov. 7, 1936, which he said has not been amended or repealed.

Such law provides that "except as a pseudonym for literary purposes, no person shall use any name different from the one with which he was christened or by which he has been known since childhood."

It further mandates that "any person desiring to use an alias or aliases shall apply for authority therefor in proceedings like those legally provided to obtain judicial authority for a change of name."

Once the use of an alias is allowed, it should be "recorded in the proper civil registry."

Lozada said under the law, the use of an alias without legal authority is punishable with imprisonment of one month to six months.

He said the President has been using his screen name and signing documents as such since he was mayor of San Juan.

He said if it is ultimately proved that Mr. Estrada is Jose Velarde, he could also be charged with violating the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits the "use of a fictitious name for the purpose of concealing a crime, evading the execution of a judgement or causing damage."

Last Dec. 22, Equitable-PCI Bank senior vice president and trust officer Clarissa Ocampo told the Senate as an impeachment court that she saw the President last Feb. 4 sign several bank documents as Jose Velarde.

Among the documents was an investment management agreement covering a "directional loan" of P500 million to Wellex Corp., which is owned by presidential friend William Gatchalian.

The money was to be debited from Velarde’s savings/checking account with the Equitable branch located at the Pacific Star building along G. Puyat (formerly Buendia) Avenue in Makati City.

Prosecutors suspect the account holds more than P1 billion in deposits that they claim constitute ill-gotten wealth.