After causing series of controversies and intrigues while she worked as assistant secretary of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Margaux “Mocha” Uson has an announcement to the public — that she is resigning from her post.
This decision was announced by Uson on Wednesday, October 3, during a Senate hearing on the PCOO budget for next year. The House of Representatives deferred for the second time its plenary deliberations on the proposed budget for the PCOO because Uson was not present.
According to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go, also on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte accepted Uson’s resignation.
“Nirerespeto po naman angkanyang pagre-resign at nagpapasalamat rin kami kay ASec. Mocha sa kanyang naging serbisyo po sa gobyernong Duterte (We respect her resignation and we thank ASec. Mocha for her service in the Duterte administration),” Go told GMA.
He added that Uson has been a “good ally” to the Duterte administration.
Since the Chief Executive appointed her in 2017, Uson has been earning the ire of not only the public but also her co-government officials.
She recently made headlines when Uson, last September 13, shared a controversial video to her five million followers on Facebook, where she and pro-Duterte blogger Andrew “Drew” Olivar made fun of sign language.
The Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) earlier lodged a complaint against Uson and Olivar for violating the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons over their video. It also said that Uson violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, as well as the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
[READ: Palace won’t oppose if Ombudsman fires Uson over recent controversial video]
But before this, the two had stirred up controversy for their federalism jingle where Olivar was seen dancing and gesturing to his crotch and chest areas while chanting, “I-pepe, i-pepe, i-dede, i-dede… ipederalismo!” The video was shared by Uson on August 2 on her Facebook page.
Uson also drew flak for spreading false information on her social media account.
Due to these, various groups, several lawmakers and government officials urged her to resign or called on Duterte to fire her. The President, however, earlier rejected these calls, saying that he respects Uson’s freedom of expression.
Despite her resignation, Uson said her fight is not yet over.
Addressing her critics, Uson said, “‘Wag kayong magkakamaling isipin na nagtagumpay kayo. Hindi ako nagbitiw sa posisyon dahil takot ako sa inyo. Gusto ko lang na kapag magkaharap tayo, patas ang laban (Do not even think that you won. I did not resign from my position because I’m afraid of you. I just want that when we confront each other, our fight will be fair).”
On the other hand, Olivar said, “Yehey nagresign na si MOCHA!!! SIMULA NA NG LABAN!!! Magkakalabasan na ng BAHO. TAPOS na ang paghihirap mo madam (Yehey, Mocha finally resigned. The battle has just begun. Wrongdoings will be exposed. Your struggle is finally over, madam).”