Mocha not covered by appointment ban on losing poll bets

Uson was a nominee of the AA-Kasosyo party-list during the last May 2019 elections. The group’s advocacy is to help overseas workers become successful entrepreneurs. (File Photo: MOCHA USON BLOG/Facebook)

MANILA — Newly-appointed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Esther Margaux ‘Mocha’ Uson is not covered by the ban on the appointment of losing candidates in the May 2019 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez explained that the one-year ban is not applicable to party-list nominees.

“Candidates are the ones covered by the one-year ban. Party-list nominees are not covered,” he said in an interview.

The poll body official added that the organizations are considered as the candidates and not the nominees under the party-list election system.

Under the 1987 Constitution, “no candidate, who has lost in any election, shall, within one year after an election, be appointed to any office in the government or any government-owned or controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries”.

Uson was a nominee of the AA-Kasosyo party-list during the last May 2019 elections. The group’s advocacy is to help overseas workers become successful entrepreneurs.

On the other hand, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac welcomed Uson’s appointment, noting that she is a known supporter of overseas Filipino workers.

“I know Mocha to be a defender of OFW rights and welfare. So we look forward to working with her in furtherance of OFW rights, welfare, and interests,” he said in his Twitter account, @HansLeoCacdac.

Meanwhile, a non-government organization that specializes in labor migration is giving the new OWWA official a chance to prove herself.

“OWWA is heavily understaffed and needs a lot of help in communicating its programs and services. I expect her to be on full learning mode and develop teamwork and camaraderie with the rest of the OWWA team,” said Susan Ople, head of Blas F. Ople Policy Center in a statement.

“She is in a very good agency and I wish her the best of luck,” she added.

Before joining the May 2019 polls, Uson served as Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).