Robredo: Actions of Mocha Uson, Drew Olivar do not help Duterte

Vice President Leni Robredo said the actions of bloggers Drew Olivar and Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson do not help President Rodrigo Duterte, who is advocating for a shift to a federal form of government.

“Kapag ganito iyong ginagamit na paraan, hindi lang si Pangulo iyong nababastos, pero lahat ng Pilipino,” Robredo said in a statement on Friday.

Robredo was commenting on the “lewd” federalism campaign video involving Olivar and Uson that went viral on social media.

While the opposition parties have criticized the two, most of the president’s allies were divided on the federalism video controversy.

READ: ‘I-pepe-dede-ralismo’ video sparks outrage

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque believed that it was done with the best of intentions, but urged for a more serious discussion on the issue. On the other hand, Senator and PDP-Laban President Koko Pimentel asked Uson to keep off the promotion of federalism.

READ:  Koko to Mocha: Keep off federalism campaign, take a leave

Uson has defended herself through another video, emphasizing that she has not received any payment to campaign for federalism. She also claimed that senators are the ones who are “indecent.”

READ: Mocha video ‘a step backward’ for federalism cause – Koko

However, Robredo said she does not mind intervening in issues if such vulgarity is being promoted by people in the government themselves.

She also said that the a government official’s presence — Uson — during the filming and recording of the video made the matter more insulting.

“Ganito bang kabastusan iyong pino-promote natin bilang mga Pilipino? Kung kinakailangan na mag-intervene tayo para pahintuin iyong mga ganito, gagawin natin,” she vowed.

She also confirmed she is looking at charges against Olivar, who badmouthed her in an almost two-minute video uploaded on social media.

On Tuesday, Robredo’s legal counsel and spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said that they will take action against the blogger’s accusations hurled against the Vice President, which ranged from inaction, her trips and sexual allegations.

READ: Robredo’s camp mulling filing charges vs blogger in federalism video

“Marami lang iyong mga naghihikayat sa atin na mag-file ng legal action,” Robredo said.

“Nangako tayo na papag-aralan natin sa mga abogado kasi apektado hindi lang ako, pero apektado iyong maraming Pilipino na nalalaswaan sa ginagawa,” she added.   /vvp