President Rodrigo Duterte (right) on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, said Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson (left) overdid some of her actions. INQUIRER FILES
JERUSALEM — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted Monday that Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson had “excesses” in some of her actions but defended her saying those were part of her freedom of expression.
“Si Mocha maraming kalaban. Sabi ko, ‘There are things na tingin ko medyo nasobrahan,'” Duterte said Monday morning (Manila time) in a speech before the Filipino community in Jerusalem.
Uson is with the President in his trip to Israel.
However, Duterte stressed that the controversial official is free to express herself as part of her constitutional right.
“Kung ano ang gusto niya sabihin, kahit empleyado siya ng opisina ko o as a private citizen, that is not really my concern. As long as it is covered sa provision ng Constitution, freedom of expression,” he said.
Last month, Uson figured in a highly-criticized “lewd” video with pro-Duterte blogger Drew Olivar.
READ: ‘I-pepe-dede-ralismo’ video sparks outrage
Calls for Uson’s resignation piled up after the video featuring the jingle “pepedederalismo” went viral on social media.
The controversial video irked opposition politicians and even the President’s allies including Senator Koko Pimentel.
READ: Mocha video ‘a step backward’ for federalism cause – Koko
Aside from the federalism jingle controversy, Uson also faces criticisms for allegedly spreading fake news.
Uson staunchly supported Duterte during the May 2016 elections and was appointed assistant secretary in May 2017.
Duterte said her appointment was borne out of a “debt of gratitude.” /cbb