DAVAO CITY (October 3) — Now that Assistant Secretary Margeaux Uson has resigned, 1-Ang Edukasyon party-list Representative Salvador Belaro Jr. wants Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Ruperto Andanar to resign too.
Belaro said Andanar’s resignation would greatly help PCOO to get a fresh, start hinting leadership problem in said office.
In a statement, Belaro said “The resignation of Ms. Mocha Uson from her post as assistant secretary at PCOO is a golden opportunity for Malacanang and PCOO to hit the reset button on some of its public communications efforts.”
He added “Secretary Martin Andanar should also resign to take moral and command responsibility for the numerous failings of the PCOO and agencies under his jurisdiction.”
During the PCOO budget deliberations at the Senate, Uson asked Senator JV Ejercito that she be given time to say her piece, which was granted by the Senator. She then said “Taon-taon ako ay sinasabihan na huwag punahin ang ilang mambabatas para hindi ipitin ang budget ng PCOO. Nakakagalit man ngunit ganyan ang sistema natin sa kasalukuyan. Bulok man ito ngunit kailangan sundin. At dahil po diyan, ako na po ang magsasakrpisiyo para maipasa na ang budget ng PCOO. Ako po ay nag desisyon na mag-resign na.”
During her stint at the PCOO, Uson has been wrapped with controversies, including the proliferation of what they claim “Fake News” on her blog and misinformation.
Uson has repeatedly defended her posts saying she was just exercising her freedom of expression and some of those were honest mistakes.
In urging Andanar, to follow Uson’s resignation, Belaro said PCOO needs competent and honest people, “We want the PCOO converted into a department of integrated communications. [The Office of the President] should have its separate communications office all under the presidential spokesperson.”-NewsLine
