‘Nene’ Pimentel slams Uson, says she’s caused more confusion than help the cause of federalism
Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux Uson should stick to entertainment rather than muddy the waters on the government’s federalism campaign, according to former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Pimentel has expressed dismay with the controversial racy federalism video shared by Uson, which he claimed was a waste of time and government resources.
The former lawmaker, an advocate of the shift to federalism, is a member of the consultative committee that drafted a proposed federal Constitution.
“Si Assistant Secretary Mocha dapat siguro nandoon siya sa entertainment lang. Huwag naman siya sasali dito sa issue na mukhang hindi naman niya naintindihan (Assistant Secretary Mocha should probably stick to entertainment only. She should not join an issue which she apparently does not understand),” Pimentel during a federalism forum in Malacañang.
“Lalong magkakagulo ang pag-isip ng taumbayan kung sa haluan mo by statements coming from an assistant secretary in government, occupying a government position paid for by the people so hindi gaanong maganda siguro so doon siya lang siya sa sayaw okay lang (The public will only be more confused if you include such statements coming from an Assistant Secretary in government, occupying a government position paid for the by people so it is not good. She should stick to dancing, that will be okay),” he added.
Pimentel said the “bad effect” of Uson’s action was “wasting time and government funds to ventilate an issue supposedly coming from a responsible government official.”
Reacting to the former senator’s statement, Uson said she respects the opinion of Pimentel but urged him not to demean entertainers such as dancers. Uson belonged to a dance group before joining the Duterte government.
“Ginagalang ko po ang opinyon ni Sir Nene. Proud po ako na ako’y entertainer. Pero sana ’wag niyang nila ‘lang’ lang ang pagsasayaw (I respect the opinion of Sir Nene. I am proud to be an entertainer but he should not belittle dancing),” she said.
She also said Pimentel should have watched the video before making a comment. “Hindi naman po ako ang sumayaw sa video ng Pederalismo (I was not the one dancing in the federalism video,” she pointed out.
Last month, Uson drew flak from some lawmakers and groups for the offensive video that mocked and derailed the campaign about federalism. An episode of Uson’s online show featured her co-host Drew Olivar dancing to a vulgar federalism jingle.
President Duterte admitted that Uson went overboard with some of her actions but he still recognized her constitutional right to free speech.