Mocha Uson did not gather OFWs in Batangas -OWWA

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Cacdac defended Wednesday deputy administrator Mocha Uson from accusations that she held a mass gathering of overseas Filipino workers in Batangas.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Cacdac said he sent Uson to Barangay Matabungkay in Lian to remind the OFWs brought there for quarantine to follow the guidelines amid reports that some of them are going to the beach.

"Hindi, hindi. Nadatnan niya doon 'yung mga tao [...] [S]iguro akala lang nung mga tao na in-organize niya ‘yun, na talagang taus puso niyang gustong magkaroon ng mass gathering," Cacdac said.

"[M]edyo umalma na naman 'yung barangay doon dahil meron daw nagtatampisaw doon sa beach na nag-quarantine. So pinapunta ko si DA Mocha, sabi ko pakitinggan at pakipaalala sa mga tao," he added.

Cacdac said the event was only held briefly and that Uson had the "best of intentions."

"She had the best of intentions and she carried out the message, she delivered the message effectively, nakuha 'yung mensahe and then 'yun na tapos na. It was a brief briefing no," the administrator said.

Uson earlier said social distancing measures were observed amid criticisms that the event may have violated the prohibition on mass gathering amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

While giving assurance that they would look into the matter after the crisis, Cacdac appealed for understanding from the public as Uson, the one conducting community outreach, is "an important part of [his] team."

"Ako naman, it still deserves a look into. Titignan natin ito pero tapusin muna siguro natin itong krisis because I need all my people, I need the deputy administrator. I need her to conduct community outreach," Cacdac said.

"'Yung ganoong mga klaseng bagay ay hindi natin matatawaran 'yun eh. 'Yung ganoong klaseng serbisyo na ginagawa niya. And to her credit, ah? Hindi niya ‘yan masyado ipinapakita, ibrinobroadcast [...] You have to give her a chance," he added.—AOL, GMA News