Duterte backs Mocha’s plan to seek a congressional seat

President Duterte has thrown his support behind the planned congressional bid of resigned Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson in the 2019 elections.

“I will support you,” the President told Uson during a brief meeting in Malacañang Tuesday.

The President made the statement after the former Palace official informed him about her political plans in next year's elections.

“I announced I am going to run maybe in Congress to continue your fight. I'll bring it to Congress,” she told the President in a video posted on her Facebook page.

The President also denied that he fired Uson from her post, saying she actually tendered her resignation from government. Uson returned to the Palace last Tuesday to get the President's clarification after she dismissed the rumors she was fired as fake news.

“I never fired Mocha. Siya yung nagresign. All these years, when she was under heavy criticism, I supported her. Freedom of expression 'yan,” Duterte said.

Uson, appearing in a budget hearing at the Senate last October 3, announced her resignation to facilitate the approval of the proposed 2019 budget of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

Annoyed by the fake news that she was fired by the President, Uson later declared that she would seek an elective post in the upcoming elections.