The anti-election fraud group Kontra Daya has joined a growing chorus of opposition to the appointment of former sexy dancer Mocha Uson, an avid supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte who tried to enter through the backdoor in Congress through the party-list system but failed.
“Beyond legality, there is a reason to question the temerity of the appointing authority and the audacity of a losing party-list nominee,’ said Danny Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya (Against Fraud).
“While it may be argued that the party-list system provides for election of party-list groups (not individuals), it is better for those in power to exercise prudence in giving out appointments to its favored individuals clearly rejected by the voters,” he added.
According to Arao, Uson stood to receive a monthly salary of at least P155,030 as an officer of Owwa.
“This translates to P1.86 million annually. Lest we forget, her salary shall come from the people’s taxes. This all the more necessitates the need to expose the appointing authority’s temerity and Uson’s audacity,” said Arao.
He added that Malacanang cannot use legal technicalities “to hide the ugly head of patronage politics.”
He said it is high time for legislators to expand the one-year ban on government appointments to losing party-list nominees, particularly the first, second and third nominees.
“This is one way for legislators to prove that they are not spineless puppets of Malacañang Palace,” Arao said.
He also urged the public to voice their opposition to the recycle of personalities, like Uson, who had barely made a dent in her previous positions in government like Movies and Television Review and Classification Board member and Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary./TSB