Mocha Uson not pressured to quit, but Duterte accepts resignation — Bong Go

The executive branch did not pressure Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson to vacate her post, but her resignation has already been accepted by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Wednesday, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher "Bong" Go said Uson was not pressured to resign.

"Wala naman po. Actually, (before) po niya pinadala 'yung sulat ay tinawagan na niya ako habang nasa ibang bansa siya at sinabi na niyang 'yun po ay kaniyang (gagawin)," Go said.

Uson was in the United States earlier this week as part of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Go said Uson sent her letter of resignation on Tuesday, October 2, and this has already been forwarded to the President.

"Natanggap na po namin 'yung sulat no, kahapon, at... pinaabot ko na po ito sa ating Pangulo," he said.

On Wednesday, Go confirmed that Duterte has accepted the resignation.

Earlier at the Senate, Uson announced her resignation from her post as a "sacrifice" in exchange for the approval of the Presidential Communications Operations Office's (PCOO) budget.

Asked if the resignation was connected to reports that Uson would be running for senator in the upcoming elections, Go said the announcement would come from Uson herself.

"Antayin na lang ho natin kung ano magiging kaniyang desisyon o magiging anunsyo, subalit 'yun po narinig ko lang po at hindi ko po maco-confirm," he explained. "Kaniyang desisyon po 'yun kung sakaling tatakbo siya sa susunod na eleksyon." 

Go did not elaborate on the circumstances leading up to the resignation of Uson, but he said that Malacañang wishes her well.

"Ganito po. Nirerespeto namin ang kaniyang pag-resign at nagpapasalit rin kami kay Asec. Mocha sa kaniyang naging serbisyo po sa gobyerno ni Pangulong Duterte," he said.

"Naging good ally po siya at talagang very supportive sa ating Pangulo at kami naman po ay we wish her good luck po kung ano po ang magiging desisyon niya sa future at ano po ang magiging plano niya," Go added.

Prior to her resignation, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Harold Clavite publicly asked Uson to step down from her post citing her failure to attend plenary deliberations on the PCOO budget.

"[The] Filipino people have now seen what a Mocha Uson could do to governance," Clavite explained. "I think what she has done has really tarnished the brand and image of the President and his government." 

Uson had been criticized by various quarters for allegedly spreading disinformation through her blog and for a racy video on federalism featuring her friend, blogger Drew Olivar.

She also drew flak for uploading on her blog another video showing Olivar apparently mocking the sign language of the deaf.

Duterte said last month that Uson enjoys freedom of expression even as he admitted that some of her actions went overboard.

An entertainer turned blogger, Uson was appointed by Duterte to the PCOO in May last year following a brief stint as board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas with Virgil Lopez/RSJ/MDM, GMA News