Mocha Uson apologizes for Mayon location mistake

Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson (File photo by RICHARD A, REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“You are all so quick to judge.”

This was the retort of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson to her critics after she wrongly referred Mt. Mayon’s location to be in Naga City in Camarines Sur instead of Albay province.

In a live video published on Facebook Wednesday morning, Uson said that the news should be focused on the most important issue the country faces – the impending disaster in Naga City because of the looming eruption of Mount Mayon.

“Ginagamit po ng ilang mga tao itong maliit na issue sa award para pagtakpan yung issue ng Dengvaxia, issue ng pagtanggap diumano ni Senator Drilon ng pera galing kay Napoles, at yung pinakamahalaga pa yung nangyayari sa Naga, ‘yang pag-aalburuto ng Mayon volcano,” Uson indignantly said in the eight-minute video.

[Some people are using this tiny issue of my award to cover up the issue of Dengvaxia, the issue of Sen. Drilon’s acceptance of Napoles’ bribes, and the most important, what is happening in Naga, the looming eruption of Mayon volcano.]

READ: Mayon is now in Naga – that is, if you listen to Mocha Uson

The boo-boo trended hours later.

And in true Mocha fashion, Uson apologized Wednesday night for her yet another “tiny mistake” but at the same time blasted at her critics for for making a big fuss out of it.

She also swiped at their alleged silence on the Dengvaxia controversy and the death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) freshman law student Horacio Tomas Castillo III.

Apology for the mistake

“Trending nga po tayo dahil diyan sa nakakatawang issue, ‘yang pagkakamali ko na ang bulkang Mayon ay nasa Naga. Pasensya na po, inaamin ko po na nagkamali ako, okay, pasensya na po, ayan, at uhhh… nakakatawa, napakaliit na issue, ginagawang headline, ginagawang national news, trending, pero pagdating sa Dengvaxia, tahimik kayo,” Uson said in an almost seven-minute live video on Facebook.

[We are trending because of that ridiculous issue, my mistake when I said Mayon volcano is in Naga. I am sorry, I admit I was wrong, okay, I am sorry, there, and uhm… it is funny that such small issue becomes the headline, becomes the national news, trending, but when it comes to Dengvaxia, you are all silent.]

“Diba? Tapos pagdating sa pagkamatay ni Atio Castillo diyan sa UST, tahimik din kayo. Pero yung simpleng pagkakamali ko, na hindi naman maaapektuhan ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas o ang seguridad ng bansa natin, grabe kayo kung makapanghusga,” she added.

[Right? And when it comes to the death of Atio Castillo there in UST, you are all silent too. But my simple mistake, which would not affect the Philippine economy, or the security of our country, you are so quick to judge.]

Castillo was killed in an apparent hazing rites. His death has drawn public outrage, prompted rallies, and resurrected calls for stricter anti-hazing laws in the country. /atm