Mocha Uson. AFP FILE PHOTO
Assistant Communications Secretary Mocha Uson came to the defense of President Duterte’s granddaughter Isabelle Duterte after netizens slammed her predebut photo shoot inside the Malacañang Palace.
Uson, in a Facebook post, said it was her personal view that there was nothing wrong with what Isabelle did.
She said Isabelle was being condemned as if she had killed someone.
“First of all, were any public funds spent because his granddaughter had her picture taken in Malacañang? If there was none, it is not wrong for the President’s granddaughter to have her picture taken there. What is wrong is to use the government’s helicopter and spend for personal campaigning,” she said.
She also responded to observations that the photo shoot was done in bad taste in light of Mr. Duterte’s claim that he leads a simple life.
According to her, it was the tradition among Filipinos, even those who are not well-off, to spend for a daughter’s debut. Isabelle is the eldest daughter of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
It is also the first family’s privilege to use Malacañang, she said.
“This is the grandchild of the President. Let us give her some understanding. She is just proud and excited because her grandfather is the president,” she said.
Uson, who got her Palace post for being a die-hard Duterte supporter, also said anybody who enters Malacañang for the first time will surely have his or her picture taken there.
Netizens, however, pointed out a specific photo wherein Isabelle posed in front of the national coat of arms.
They cited Executive Order No. 310 s. 2004 of the Philippine Constitution, which states the permitted and prohibited use of the symbol.
“Except as otherwise provided by law or Presidential issuance, the Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag of the President of the Philippines or of the Vice President of the Philippines shall be exclusively used to represent the President of the Philippines or the Vice President of the Philippines, respectively.”