Mocha Uson won’t apologize to Kris Aquino over Ninoy kiss video

FILE: Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson insisted she would not say sorry to Kris Aquino for uploading a video that ‘disrespected’ the TV host’s father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino III. (Photo: MOCHA USON BLOG/Facebook)

Despite the President’s top aide telling the media that she would later issue an apology, Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson insisted she would not say sorry to Kris Aquino for uploading a video that ‘disrespected’ the TV host’s father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino III.

“With all due respect to everyone involved, I decline to apologize for the truth,” Uson wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, June 6, in response to the tirade made by Kris against her.

The former sexy actress even posted a 23-second video, stressing that the issue was not actually about the influential media personality.

“Ito po ang aking (This is my) response sa (to the) live video ni (of) Ms. Kris Aquino. This is not about Kris Aquino,” Uson said.

“Tungkol ito sa paglagay ng malisya sa isang halik. Itinumbas lang sa gawain ng ibang lider tulad ng tatay niya (This is about putting malice on a kiss. It was just compared to the actions of other leaders like her father),” she added.

On her Facebook account on June 4, Uson uploaded a video where she compared an old footage of the slain senator getting kissed by two female fans to a recent video clip of President Rodrigo Duterte kissing a Filipina worker in South Korea. Uson made this post to defend the President from critics over his controversial kissing gimmick last June 3.

The Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary made her latest remarks several hours after Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go held a press conference to announce that Uson will apologize to Kris as she agreed to put an end to the issue “out of respect to all our fellow Filipinos.”

Duterte and Go had already apologized to the youngest daughter of Ninoy and former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino for the incident. The top aide said it was the President who instructed him to send his apologies to Kris.

Mocha wins

In a 17-minute live video on Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday night, Kris, who wants to put the public spat between her and the official to rest, raised the white flag as she declared Uson’s victory.

“Mocha, you win because you hurt me and I think that’s what you wanted to do. Nanalo ka dahil patuloy mong inapak-apakan ang pagkatao, ang alaala ng dalawang tao na pinakamamahal ko (You won because you keep stepping on the character and memories of the two persons I love the most).”

The TV host said Uson has made a point that the issue was not about her but her father; however, the assistant secretary should know that she has the right to speak up for her father as she is Ninoy’s flesh and blood.

“’Yung sinasabihan mo na ako na (When you are telling me that) it’s not about me, I’m sorry. When it is about my mother and when it is about my father, it will always be about me,” the actress said.

The then-presidential daughter noted that what hurt her the most was that Uson picked the video clip of her father that was taken a few moments before he was defenselessly assassinated.

Kris said it was tiring for her how she just has to “accept and swallow” all the bashing she receives from her family’s critics all the time.

“Tatanugin mo sarili mo, nagnakaw ba ako sa inyo? May masama ba akong nagawa sa inyo? May masama bang nagawa si Ninoy at Cory Aquino kay Pangulong Duterte (You will ask yourself, did I steal anything from you? Did I do something bad to you? Did Ninoy and Cory do anything bad to President Duterte)?” she added.

Stressing that she has already done her part on reaching Uson, the TV host finished her video by saying, “Mocha, I’ll end this, this was not about Kris Aquino. This was a reminder that Filipinos still love and respect Cory and Ninoy Aquino.”

Kris earlier dared Uson to face her “anytime, anywhere,” even saying that she is willing to reenact a scene from a film Four Sisters and a Wedding, where actress Angel Locsin grabbed Mocha’s hair and dragged her on the street.

[READ: Duterte apologizes to Kris Aquino over Mocha Uson incident]

“I just want to say that I am ready for you. And this is a direct challenge to you. Face me. Face me anywhere. Text me, you can find my number, it’s so easy. Name the place, name the location, let’s carry it live. Bring all your followers… I can stand alone,” she told Uson.

Trust and confidence

Despite her refusal to apologize to Kris, Uson still enjoys the President’s trust and confidence, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.

In a press briefing held on Thursday, June 7, Roque said, “She hasn’t been fired. For as long as she has not been fired, she enjoys the trust and confidence [of Duterte] because all presidential appointees serve at the pleasure of the president.”

Asked to comment on Uson’s defiant move, the Palace official stressed, “I defer to SAP Bong Go completely on this matter kasi siya ang sumagot (because he was the one who answered). So he’s privy to information on this and I’m not. So please ask Secretary Bong Go.”