Pangilinan wants Andanar to explain for Uson’s federalism video

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. INQUIRER file photo

Opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wants Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to explain for the latest snafu of some people under his department.

“Dapat magpaliwanag si Sec. Andanar sa mga kalaswaan at kababuyan na nangyayari sa kanyang tanggapan na ginagawa ng mga tauhan niya gamit ang pondo, oras at kagamitan ng gobyerno,” Pangilinan said in a text message on Monday.

(Sec. Andanar should explain the indecency and lewdness that are happening in his department involving his people using the fund, time and resources of the government.)

The senator was apparently referring to Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, whose latest video showing her and a friend singing and dancing to what seemed to be a federalism campaign jingle went viral in social media.

In the video, Uson was seen prodding a certain Drew Olivar to sing and dance the jingle with the lyrics: “I-pepe, i-pepe, i-dede, i-dede, i-pepe-pepe-pepederalismo!”

Senator  Risa Hontiveros. (Inquirer file photo/Richard A. Reyes)

Senator Risa Hontiveros, another opposition member, described the jingle as a “big insult” to Uson’s office.

“Isang malaking insulto sa opisinang nirerepresenta ni Asec Uson, isang malaking kabastusan sa mga kababaihan at isang malaking kasayangan sa pera ng bayan,” Hontiveros said in a separate message.

(This is a big insult to the office that Asec Uson, to women and it’s a big waste of government’s money.)

“Ano ang kinalaman ng maseselang bahagi ng katawan ng babae sa usapin ng pederalismo? Inatasan at hiningan ng tulong si Ms. Uson para ipaliwanag sa publiko ang issue ng pederalismo, hindi para bastusin ang mga kababaihan at i-sexualize ang aming mga katawan,” she added.

But Hontiveros said she was no longer surprised by Uson’s behavior, saying it is probably the “new normal” under the Duterte administration,

Because of this latest fiasco, she said, the government’s campaign on federalism now has “zero credibility.”   /kga

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