Palace: Mocha Uson’s UST alumni award validates her appointment in gov’t

Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s award from the UST Alumni Association Inc. (USTAAI) validates her appointment in government, Malacañang said Monday.

“Well, we are happy for Asec. Uson and I supposed that validates that her appointment was for good reasons. It is the oldest university in Asia after all and to be given this recognition must be, really a source of honor [for] Asec. Mocha Uson,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a briefing in Malacañang.

In a statement earlier, the University of Santo Tomas clarified that the alumni association is a "corporation distinct and separate from UST."

Uson’s Gawad Thomasian Alumni in Government Service award from the (USTAAI) drew flak from the university’s students and alumni.

The University of Santo Tomas Central Student Council (UST-CSC) condemned the awarding of Uson for her role in spreading "politically-motivated propaganda against known members of the government's opposition."

One of the previous recipients of the same award, Filipino-American novelist-poet Bino A. Realuyo, said that the association’s move is “an insult” to the university’s alumni.

Roque, meanwhile, refused to defend Uson from the criticisms she received for the award.

“Well, you know Asec. Mocha Uson can respond to them. The Palace does not have to,” he said.

In her own Facebook page, Uson already addressed the backlash over her award: “PAALALA: Ang amplaya ay kinakain hindi inuugali.” —ALG, GMA News