MANILA (October 3)– Several lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Wednesday welcomed the resignation of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said Uson’s resignation is a “victory” for those upholding accountability in public office. “Undoubtedly, she will continue peddling fake news and hate, but no longer at taxpayers’ expense,” Tinio said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said her resignation is long overdue. “Government service, while it is about trust, it is also about accountability, and, that is what is sorely lacking from her.”
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, who moved for the deferment of plenary deliberations of the PCOO budget at the House due to Uson’s absence, was saddened by the sudden resignation of the PCOO official.
Castro, however, said Uson should still be held accountable for the series of gaffes she has committed during her stint at the PCOO.
“Hindi dahil sa nag-resign siya ay ligtas na siya. Marami pa rin siyang sasagutin sa taong bayan kaugnay ng mga ginagawa niya na paggamit ng kanyang posisyon nung siya ay nasa PCOO (Just because she resigned, it doesn’t mean she’s already safe [from scrutiny]. She still has to answer for the recent blunders that she made while she was still a PCOO official),” Castro said.
Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin described Uson’s resignation as a “whiff of fresh air.” “Too little, too late. Her deeds have poisoned the air we breathe. It’s a whiff of fresh air though,” Villarin said.
Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said President Rodrigo Duterte is “ridding himself of excess baggage.”
“Unfortunately for Asec. Mocha, notoriety didn’t translate into success in the PCOO,” Baguilat said.
Siquijor Rep. Rav Rocamora said Uson’s voluntary resignation is a welcome development for Filipinos. Rocamora said despite Uson’s “much-touted contribution” as a “social media blogger”, the numerous controversies Uson brought to her office did not serve to communicate the Duterte administration’s policies to the public.
“Her appointment to the PCOO was a mistake, to begin with and should have been rectified much earlier with a termination or resignation,” Rocamora added.
Uson announced her resignation during a Senate hearing, stressing that Congress was purposely delaying deliberations on the PCOO budget because of her.
She described her decision to leave her post as a “sacrifice” to allow the passage of the PCOO budget.
Calls for Uson’s resignation mounted anew after she posted a video on her personal blog showing Drew Olivar, her co-host in “Good News Game Show”, singing and dancing while making vulgar gestures to raise awareness on federalism.
She also released another video mocking sign language but has apologized for it.
Reports showed that Uson is being considered to run for senator. She was appointed as PCOO assistant secretary in May 2017.- PNA
