Duterte on Mocha: Some things went overboard

COMMUNICATIONS Secretary Esther Margaux "Mocha" Uson, a sexy star turned politician, may have went overboard with some of her actions, but she has the right to enjoy her constitutional right to freedom of expression, President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday (Israel time).

Duterte's remarks came after Uson was heavily criticized over her lewd jingle on federalism.

While the President acknowledged that Uson has many critics, he stressed that he would not deprive the communications official of her right to freely express herself.

"Si Mocha, maraming kalaban. Marami siyang kalaban. Well, I don't know but sabi ko, alam mo ganito iyan: There are things na tingin ko medyo nasobrahan," the President said in a speech delivered before the Filipino community on Sunday night (early Monday morning, September 3, Manila time).

(Mocha has many enemies. She has many enemies. Well, I don't know but I said, you know, it's like this: There are things that I think went overboard.)

"But just the same, as a president who is sworn [in] to protect the Constitution and enforce it, it is covered with yung privilege niya [sa] freedom of expression. Wala tayong..." he added.

(But just the same, as a president who is sworn [in] to protect the Constitution and enforce it, it is covered with her privilege to freedom of expression. We can't deprive her.)

In August, Uson drew flak for hosting a Facebook video with pro-Duterte blogger Drew Olivar, who was chanting "i-pepe" and "i-dede" while gesturing to his crotch and chest.

Uson's recent act prompted calls for her resignation and for the Presidential Communications Operations Office's (PCOO) zero budget for 2019.

The Communications official, however, was unapologetic, despite the federalism controversy, stressing that her viral video with Olivar would help promote the Duterte government's proposed shift to federalism.

Duterte also refused to castigate Uson, saying it was not his concern if the latter did it on purpose as a public official or as a private citizen.

"Kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin, ke ma-empleyado siya ng opisina ko o sa labas as a private citizen, that is not really my concern as long as it is covered sa provision ng Constitution -- freedom of expression," he said.

(Whatever she wants to say, whether she does it as an employee of my office or does it outside as a private citizen, that is not really my concern as long as it is covered in the provision of the Constitution -- freedom of expression.)

In a one-page memorandum dated August 13, the PCOO reminded its officials and employees to be mindful of the content they share on social media, following the backlash over Olivar's "pepedederalismo."