Go back to showbiz, ‘Nene’ tells Mocha

FORMER Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. on Friday told Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson to stay away from the government’s federalism campaign, after the latter drew flak over her controversial “pepedederalismo” video.

Pimentel, a member of the Malacanang- backed Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked to draft the federal Charter, said Uson should just stay in entertainment as her controversial video did not do any good for the administration’s campaign to promote federalism.

“Dapat si guro nandoon siya sa entertainment lang. Huwag naman si yangs as ali di to sam ga issue na mukhang di naman niya pag-iisipng mga taong bayan( Maybe she should just stay in entertainment. She should not join in issues that she does not understand. The public will just be confused,” Pimentel told reporters during a weekly federalism briefing in Malacañang.

“Doon nalang siya sa sayaw, okay lang (She should stick to dancing, that would be fine),” he said.

According to Pimentel, Uson also “wasted time and government funds” with her controversial federalism video.

“I suggest that this government official should be more careful with her statements,” Pimentel added of Uson, who was earlier tapped to help in the government’s federalism information drive.

Uson and blogger Drew Olivar drew ire for a viral August 2 video, where the two were seen singing a federalism jingle while using racy terms and gestures.

Lawmakers have slammed the clip for being insulting and “vulgar.”

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, defended Uson, saying the latter was merely exercising freedom of expression.

Duterte, who campaigned on a promise of Charter change, is pushing for a shift to federalism by the time his term ends.

Former Supreme Court nominee and ConCom member Rodolfo Robles, during the federalism briefing, said Uson’s approach to promoting federalism was not suited to the seriousness of the topic.

Uson said she respected Pimentel’s views but took his remarks as belittling people who work in the entertainment industry.

“G in ag alan gk o po an go piny on ni Sir Nene. Proud po ako na ako’y dating entertainer. Per os ana‘ wag ni yang ‘lang’ l an gang pa gs a say aw( I respect the opinion of Sir Nene. I am proud to be a former entertainer. But I hope he doesn’t belittle the livelihood of dancing),” she added.

Uson and Olivar were also in hot water again this week after another video of them — his time making fun of sign language — went viral.

The Philippine Federation of the Deaf has filed a complaint against the two before the Ombudsman, while the Commission on Human Rights said the body is already investigating the video.