Mocha told to stay away from federalism amid 'ipederalismo' dance uproar

Amid the controversial ‘ipederalismo’ dance, Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson has been advised to take a leave and stay away from the topic of federalism until she learns enough about it.

The advice came from Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, who issued a statement on Monday expressing disappointment over the dance act.

"Di ko lubos akalain na bababuyin pala nila ang kawsa ng Pederalismo," he said. "Ilayo na si Mocha sa Pederalismo. Mag-aral muna siya ng mabuti. Mag leave muna siya." 

Pimentel admitted he made a mistake in trusting Uson, whom he once named as one of the 20 personalities under consideration by PDP-Laban for its 12-person senatorial slate for the 2019 mid-term elections.

"Ako ay nagkamali! Akala ko makakatulong si Mocha sa pagpapaliwanag tungkol sa Pederalismo," he said.

"Kasi naman ang pagka-intindi ko ay hindi naman siya ang in-charge kundi isang tao na mas meron otoridad at kaalaman sa Pederalismo tulad ng mga miembro ng Consultative Committee (Con-com)," Pimentel added.

Pimentel's rebuke came after Uson's "Good News Game Show" showed co-host Drew Olivar dancing while chanting, "I-pepe, i-pepe, i-dede, i-dede... ipederalismo!" and gesturing to his crotch and chest.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, took to Twitter to express disagreement with the video.

Theatrical techniques will not work to explain a very serious and high falluting issue such as Federalism! @inquirerdotnet @ABSCBNNews @gmanews

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) August 6, 2018

    Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, for his part, said federalism should be discussed in a sober and serious manner as it is important for Filipinos to understand the issues surrounding it  .  

Not angry but disappointed

Pimentel said he was not angry but "disappointed that the best and the brightest appointed to this gov't can come up with only that kind of bullshit."

"Even without the dance and the song, listen to the statement they read. Mali mali pa ang substance!" he said.

Netizens questioned Uson's competence in explaining federalism, as she vowed days before, in a simplified form while some called her out for supposedly wasting taxpayer's money through her wages.

Uson said the moment was taken out of context and that the self-funded video was part of her goal to further discussion on federalism as part of her promise to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Con-com looked at tapping Uson for the P90-million information campaign about federalism for her newspaper column and popular Facebook blog, which has over five million followers.

This is in spite of complaints from youth leaders at the Office of the Ombudsman for her alleged use of her social media platforms to spread disinformation online. —KBK, GMA News