Mocha Uson says social distancing observed at meeting with OFWs in Batangas

Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Tuesday parried criticism that her agency’s recent event with migrant Filipino workers in Batangas may have violated the prohibition on mass gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uson said she and the rest of the OWWA team reminded OFWs to observe social distancing when they visited 322 quarantined overseas Filipino workers in Barangay Matabungkay in Lian, Batangas on April 25.

"Amin po silang pinaalalahanan ng mga alituntunin na dapat sundin sa panahon ng ECQ, tulad ng social distancing at hindi paglabas sa kanilang quarantine facilities, dahil may mga nakarating na balita sa aming tanggapan na may mga OFW na nananalagi sa tabing-dagat ng Matabungkay," Uson said on Facebook.

“Kami ay bumisita nang may mahigpit na pagsunod sa mga alituntunin ng IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force], mula pa nang nagsimula ang ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] noong ika-15 ng Marso,” she added.

Malacañang distanced itself from criticisms against Uson, who used to be a ranking official of the Palace communications team.

“Si Binibining Mocha Uson po ay nagtatrabaho ngayon sa OWWA,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

“Ipo-forward po namin itong information na ito doon sa OWWA Administrator at siya po ang bahalang magdesisyon.”

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Uson to OWWA in September last year. -NB, GMA News