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Mocha wants raps filed vs. person behind wrong Marawi photo she shared on blog


Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson wants Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to file administrative charges against the person who posted a misleading photo of Marawi City, which she had shared on her  social media account.

Last Monday, the Mocha Uson Blog Facebook page commended the government for a speedy response to the damage inflicted by an armed conflict in Marawi City by sharing a photo of a "cleared and calm" neighborhood.

The caption read: "Grabe naman ang bilis naman kumilos ng gobyerno.”

In a letter addressed to Andanar dated October 26, Uson explained she shared the photo and was only later informed that it was put up on the "Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Facebook page by a person who did not acquire a clearance to post the image.

"I was simply informed that the person who uploaded the said article did not get clearance for the picture. And upon further inquiry about the said un-named person, was told that he or she had been dealt with," Uson wrote.

"Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa" is a division under the government's Bureau of Communications Services.

Seeking the filing of appropriate administrative charges for the mishap, Uson asked the Palace communications office to initiate an investigation to discover the name and designation of the unidentified person responsible for the "offending" photo.

“I am therefore constrained to inquire with your office, as the appointing authority of the said unnamed person to conduct an investigation on the same, discover the name and designation of the person responsible for the offending picture and if the evidence warrants, initiate the appropriate administrative case against the said unnamed person,” read the letter.

The photo in question turned out to have been an old photo from Rappler, which Uson would later slam for doing a story on her mistake.

"It turned out that the picture shown was grabbed from Rappler," wrote the Assistant Secretary.

"And it took no time before that publication posted about it, blaming me and this office for 'fake news,'" she added.

In its report, Rappler pointed out Uson's mistake and clarified that the photo was taken by their correspondent only on the third day of the Marawi siege and not after it.

The publication also insisted that the outdated photo "could have easily been verified" using free tools available on the web. 

Sought for Uson's side, her office, over the weekend, told GMA News Online that it could not comment beyond what is contained in the letter posted online. — MDM, GMA News

Tags: mochauson
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