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Mocha Uson got memo over ‘ipederalismo’ video, says PCOO


The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has issued a memorandum to Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, reminding her of the conduct and ethical standards of public officials.

The memo that Uson received was in connection with the controversial “ipederalismo” video she posted on social media, Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said on Thursday during budget deliberations for the PCOO before the House Committee on Appropriations.

Banaag said the memo was issued via the office of Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, who heads the PCOO gender and development activities.

“Nag-issue ng memorandum kay ASec. Mocha Uson to remind her doon sa lahat ng pino-post niya and to remind her din doon sa provision ng RA 6713, the norms and conduct of public officials and employees especially on professionalism,” she said.

“Ito ang first na reminder na official na pinatanggap ng PCOO through USec. Badoy [kay Uson],” Banaag noted.

On Uson’s “Good News Game Show,” co-host Drew Olivar danced while chanting, “I-pepe, i-pepe, i-dede, i-dede... ipederalismo!” while his hands were making gestures over his crotch and chest.

Netizens were infuriated, prompting them to question Uson’s ability to be an effective instrument in raising awareness about federalism.

Some netizens also slammed Uson for supposedly being a waste of tax payers’ money as a public servant.

Uson was not able to attend the budget deliberations as she is part of the entourage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visits to Israel and Jordan.

Banaag said the memo to Uson is proof that the PCOO does not take the comments of netizens lightly.

“Nakikinig din kami at may ginagawa ang opisina para ma-direct ‘yung opisina ni ASec. Mocha,” Banaag noted.

“Ang mandato ng PCOO ay magpalaganap ng magandang portrayal at imahe ng kababaihan sa taumbayan through advertisements. At alam namin na we are accountable sa lahat ng pinopost namin lalo na sa aming mga opisyal,” she added.

During the same hearing, Undersecretary Marvin Gatpayat said Uson was also directed to respond to complaints coursed through the national public service hotline, 8888, about the video.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate asked the PCOO to provide him a copy of the memo to Uson.

A fact-finding investigation was also conducted over the incident, Gatpayat said,  the results of which were submitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary, as only the President has administrative jurisdiction over Uson as presidential appointee.

The 2019 proposed budget for the PCOO is P1.474 billion, which is P39.434 million or 2.75 percent higher than its appropriation in 2018.

Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin has proposed to cut the PCOO’s 2019 budget to zero after the “ipederalismo” video was released.  —VDS, GMA News

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