After Mocha: Andanar urged to quit PCOO too

Following the resignation of Mocha Uson as Assistant Secretary, a lawmaker on Wednesday also called for the resignation of Secretary Martin Andanar in order for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to start with a clean slate.

"The resignation of Ms. Mocha Uson from her post as assistant secretary at PCOO is a golden opportunity for Malacanang and PCOO to hit the reset button on some of its public communications efforts," 1-Ang Edukasyon party-list Representative Salvador Belaro said.

"Secretary Martin Andanar should also resign to take moral and command responsibility for the numerous failings of the PCOO and agencies under his jurisdiction," he added.

During the deliberations of the PCOO's budget at the Senate, Uson announced her resignation from her post, hoping that it would make way for the swift approval of the agency's budget in Congress.

Uson's stint in government service has been marred with several controversies, including her supposed spreading of "fake news" on her Facebook page.

Weeks before her resignation, Uson drew flak from netizens after the release of the controversial "ipederalismo" video, with some slamming her for supposedly being a waste of taxes as a public servant.

But Belaro said Uson is just one of the many symptoms of what is wrong in the PCOO, justifying the need for it start clean.

"We want competent and honest people leading and working within PCOO and its various agencies," Belaro said.

"We want the PCOO converted into a department of integrated communications. [The Office of the President] should have its separate communications office all under the presidential spokesperson," he added.

At the same time, Belaro also called for a "depoliticized" Philippine News Agency that does not release propaganda but objective news.

He likewise urged a special audit of the entire PCOO including that Uson's former office.

"We wish Ms. Uson well in her future endeavors as a private citizen," Belaro said.

GMA News Online has reached out to Andanar for comment but he has yet to respond as of posting time. —JST, GMA News