MANILA, Philippines – Blogger Margaux “Mocha” Uson has insisted that she never said that she is against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, stressing that her blog is run by various admins and she was not the author of the critical post against the young local chief executive.
Uson clarified on Thursday that her Facebook blog “Mocha Uson Blog” is not solely managed by her, but by a group of bloggers including the post’s original author, Banat By — meaning that what she shares may not be entirely her stand on various issues.
“FYI, Mocha Uson Blog FB page is now composed of different bloggers and admins. We practice free speech though we differ in opinions on different matters,” Uson, who also deputy administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), said in a tweet.
“So, saying that I am against VICO SOTTO is FAKE NEWS since it was posted by another admin. I hope this clears everything,” she added.
https://twitter.com/MochaUson/status/1240537361093521408
Earlier, Uson faced a backlash from netizens after she shared a post about Sotto’s request for national government to allow tricycle drivers to operate even with the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to Banat By, Sotto is merely being “pabebe”, or acting cutesy. Sotto’s request was also placed along with the answer of Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, who just urged the city mayor to be creative in solving problems created by the quarantine.
Sotto made the request after President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of an enhanced community quarantine all over Luzon last Monday paralyzed transportation as public utility vehicles were no longer allowed to make trips.
Netizens urged Uson to just follow her own advice — which was to help the government instead of criticizing people doing their jobs. As of posting, her post has drawn at least 5,100 angry reacts as of writing, and 1,400 funny reacts meant to ridicule her.
READ: Mocha Uson’s criticism vs Vico Sotto irks netizens
READ: DILG to Sotto: Tricycles not allowed in Pasig City during Luzon-wide quarantine
Sotto said that he has thought of using tricycles as shuttles because not only would it help health workers travel from their homes to their destination and vice versa, but also because social distancing may be practiced in this mode of transportation.
“’Yung tricycle nga po open air e. And yung proposal po sana namin, hanggang maximum of two. Isa sa body, isa sa backride. Kung hindi po kailangan ng companion nung pasyente, mag-isa lang po. May social distancing po doon,” Sotto said.
READ: Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto: Why not tricycles as emergency, health workers’ transpo?
READ: Sotto prays gov’t will allow tricycles to operate in Pasig City
Sotto’s progressive response towards the COVID-19 crisis has prompted praise from various sectors, including Senators Panfilo Lacson and Leila de Lima. Lacson said that Sotto, son of celebrities Vic Sotto and Connie Reyes and nephew of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, appears to be the best gift Pasig had.
READ: Vico Sotto the ‘best gift ever’ to Pasig City — Lacson
READ: Twitter stans ‘competent’ Vico Sotto, thanks mother Coney Reyes