Mocha: I will not run for senator

FILE: Mocha Uson (Photo by Alex Nuevaespaña via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson said she is not keen in seeking a Senate seat as she “hates politics.”

However, Uson, citing her loyalty to President Rodrigo Duterte, said she will run if the latter asks her to do so.

“I will not run for senator… I hate politics. It’s a common saying that in politics, there are no permanent friends, nor are there permanent enemies. Your closest friend, your party mate, or even your most loyal ally today may be your worst enemy tomorrow – and that’s just not for me,” Uson said in her weekly column in the Philippine Star.

“My loyalty is to the President when it comes to the government…I know how hard he works for the Filipinos and if he deems it necessary to have me serve the people as a Senator, then I will follow his direction…I will only run if the President asks me to do so, to help hasten the progress of building a better future for the Filipinos,” she added.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier included Uson as among those being considered by the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to be on its senatorial ticket for the 2019 mid-term elections.

Uson made these statements to address “rumor mongers” who are keen of ‘making fun’ of her inclusion on the potential senatorial slate, branded by critics as “the most awful news ever.”

“I believe there’s nothing clearer than that to address the issue when I was named as one of the candidates of the PDP-Laban slate this coming 2019 elections. So let me state it once again: I will not run for senator,” Uson said.

She also said that it is not yet the time to announce any plan to run for office, saying those who will declare their political ambitions early will commit political “suicide” noting the “condescending” backlash she received after Alvarez announced her as one of the party’s senatorial bets.

“I trended on Twitter that day and I was attacked non-stop by bashers who shared the same tone and voice every time the topic is about me: CONDESCENDING. I don’t deserve any of that, and I’m not having any of that,” Uson said.

Uson added that she prefers her “peaceful and much quieter” private life, however, still vows support for Duterte until the “end of this fight.”

“Here’s a piece of the truth that’s not known to everyone: I don’t want to get involved in politics – not anymore,” Uson said.

“We want to see the promises of President Duterte come to fruition, and we want to help achieve these, and protect these from politicians who seek to destroy these aspirations for their selfish, personal ambitions,” she added.