Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat and Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
Several lawmakers lauded on Wednesday the resignation of controversial Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
READ: Mocha resigns
Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said although a little too late, the resignation of the Duterte-appointee was 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,” he said in a statement.
Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat meanwhile said President Rodrigo Duterte was merely “ridding himself of excess baggage.”
“PRRD is ridding himself of excess baggage as it tries to shore up its plummeting image due to incompetence and insensitivity,” he said.
“Unfortunately for Asec. Mocha, notoriety didn’t translate into success in the PCOO. ‘Yung kaisa-isang malinaw na tungkulin na ibinigay sa kanya ng Pangulo (federalism IEC) e nagdulot ng embarrassment sa Malacañang,” he added.
(The only duty given to her by the President [on federalism] actually caused embarrassment to Malacañang.)
Despite leaving her post, Uson should still be held accountable for her blunders at the PCOO, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said.
“‘Yung kanyang resignation [Her resignation] does not exempt her from any accountability,” he told reporters.
ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate also backed this.
“Her resignation is a victory for those upholding accountability in public office,” Tinio said in a statement.
Zarate, meanwhile, said Uson lacked accountability.
“Government service, while it is about trust, it is also about accountability. And, that is what is sorely lacking from her. She’s an enabler of impunity, be it for fake news or tokhang killings or killings and displacements of the lumads, and many more,” he said.
But Tinio also warned the President from “recycling corrupt or incompetent favorites in his administration.”
Uson announced her exit during a budget hearing of the PCOO before the Senate.
The House on Tuesday deferred anew its deliberations on the proposed P1.474-billion 2019 budget of the PCOO after Uson snubbed ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro’s request for her appearance.
READ: House defers debate anew on PCOO 2019 budget since Mocha isn’t there… again
The chamber rescheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 3, its debates on the PCOO proper’s budget.
The embattled official had been involved in a lewd “pepedederalismo” video jingle with blogger-friend Drew Olivar and another video of them together mocking the sign language. /jpv
READ: ‘Sanction Mocha, Drew for mocking sign language’
RELATED STORY
Mocha open to run for 2019 elections