Roque: Uson to become ‘irrelevant’ if she disregards criticism

FILE: Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson with Drew Olivar (Photo: MOCHA USON BLOG/Facebook)

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. believes that Assistant Secretary (ASec) Margaux “Mocha” Uson of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will become ‘irrelevant’ if she would continue to disregard public disagreement over her actions.

“She will pay a very heavy price if she does not control herself because I think a very big chunk of the population have expressed disagreement over what she’s doing and if she continues to ignore this, she will become irrelevant,” Roque told ANC’s Headstart on Monday, August 14.

“So if she wants to be equally popular today as she was in the past, then she will attune her communication to what the public needs and wants,” he added.

Asked if Uson is “above reproach,” Roque answered, “She’s not. Why? Because people have been very vocal about their disapproval of her actions and I think that is the way to hold her responsible for her acts.”

“That’s the philosophy behind the free market place of ideas, which is important in freedom of expression. You are free to say anything and everything, but don’t expect the public to love everything that you say,” he continued.

Uson and blogger Drew Olivar recently drew flak from the public and some government officials—including senators — over their controversial ‘Ipepe-dede-ralismo’ video, where Olivar was seen singing and dancing as he gestures to his crotch and chest areas.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Harold Clavite earlier found Uson’s video not only an ‘insult’ to their profession in communication and public information, but also ‘degrading’ women and mothers. He then urged the ASec to issue a public apology and go on leave.

[READ: PIA head urges Mocha Uson to apologize, take a leave]

Aside from Olivar, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo also said Uson and Olivar were not helping the image of President Rodrigo Duterte.

[READ: Robredo says Uson, Olivar not helping Duterte]

Uson, for her part, previously clarified that the viral video was taken even before the Consultative Committee (Con-com) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked her to help in the federalism campaign.

Olivar also responded to the criticisms saying that there were a lot of trivia about federalism that was mentioned in the video.