Don't belittle Mocha and her 5 million followers, Andanar tells critics

Presidential communications chief Martin Andanar on Friday cautioned against looking down on Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and millions of her online followers amid a plan for her to join a pro-federalism public information drive.

In an interview on dzRH radio, Andanar vouched for Uson's ability to communicate in layman's terms a Malacañang-backed proposal for a draft federal Constitution.

"At sa palagay ko naman kung pag-aaralan ni Mocha itong power to the people, 'Bayanihan Federalism,' ay mai-explain niya ng husto ito. Hindi naman natin puwedeng ismolin o maliitin si Mocha Uson," Andanar said.

Uson, a former dancer-turned-communications bureau executive, manages a Facebook page where she has 5.6 million followers. She also writes a column for the Philippine Star.

She faces a complaint filed by youth leaders before the Office of the Ombudsman for supposedly spreading disinformation online.

Uson said she plans to use social media to explain to the public the merits of federalism. This, after the spokesman of the body that drafted the proposed federal Constitution revealed the Consultative Committee was looking to tap her for the P90-million information campaign.

In response, Senator Nancy Binay, who had once dared Uson to choose between being a public official and a blogger, suggested that she be invited to Senate hearings on the proposed Charter change.

Andanar said it would be up the Senate to decide whether or not to invite Uson, but doubted she would be intimidated.

"Pero si Asec. Mocha hindi naman takot iyon, I am sure that she is also responsible to her more than 5 million followers. Kasi kapag minaliit mo kasi is Mocha, parang minaliit mo na rin iyong limang milyong followers niya," he said.

"So, sa palagay ko ay pag-aaralan naman ni Mocha itong power to the people Bayanihan Federalism," he added.

He explained that Uson would not be the main spokesperson of the information drive, deferring to the expertise of lawyers and former magistrates who crafted the proposed federal Constitution.

Uson's job, he said, would be to bridge the communication gap between the Con-com and the Filipino masses.

Pulse Asia survey results released last month showed majority of Filipinos remained cool to the proposal of shifting the country’s form of government from unitary to federal.

The June 15 to 21 poll of 1,800 respondents showed 62 percent are against the proposed shift to federalism, down four percentage points from the previous survey in March.

Despite the recent numbers President Rodrigo Duterte said in his third State of the Nation Address that he was confident the Filipino people would support the introduction of a new Constitution. —KBK, GMA News