Mocha Uson: I was fired? Fake news
RESIGNED Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson on Monday, October 8, branded as “fake news” a report that she was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The news report quoted an unnamed source who said Duterte had decided to dismiss Uson from service allegedly for being “abusive and arrogant.”
On her radio program, Uson expressed her plan to file a case against Inquirer for allegedly propagating false information concerning her resignation from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
“May breaking news. Ano ba ‘to? Pinalabas nitong Inquirer, ang sabi (There’s a breaking news. What’s this Inquirer said), ‘Mocha Uson was fired by President Duterte, a Malacañang insider tells Inquirer,’” Uson said.
“Pwede ko na bang idemanda ito? Kasi walang katotohanan ito, Inquirer. Ang sabi, according to a source. Wow ha (Can I file a case against Inquirer? Because there’s no truth to it, Inquirer. You’re saying, it’s according to a source? Just wow),” she added.
Uson belied the report and asked the media outlet to retract its “unverified” article.
“Hindi ako finire. Hindi ako tinanggal. Paano nangyari ‘yun? Nag-submit nga ako ng resignation dated September 28 pa
nga (I was not fired. I was not removed from office. How did that happen? I submitted my resignation dated September 28),” she said.
“Iyang sinasabi niyo na ako ay pinatalsik sa PCOO, napalaking fake news iyan. Inquirer, malaking kasinungalingan iyan. (Your claim that I was removed from PCOO, that’s a big fake news. Inquirer, that’s a big lie) I am giving you the chance to retract your news,” she added.
Uson also dared Inquirer to directly ask the President about her resignation.
“I submitted my resignation letter at sinabi ni Sir Bong Go (said), the President accepted my resignation. Nasaan doon ang (Where is the), ‘The President fired Mocha Uson?’” she said.
“Tanungin na lang nila si Presidente. Wala namang makakapagconfirm niyan. Kay Presidente dapat. Bakit insider? So ganito na lang, Inquirer, kung gusto niyo talagang malaman, ayaw niyo pa ring maniwala na ako ay nag-resign ay tanungin niyo si Presidente. At kung anong sagot niya, malalaman natin. Huwag lang tayong magpakalat ng fake news,” she stressed.
(They should ask the President. No one can confirm it. It should be the President. Why would you ask an insider? So Inquirer, if you want to know the truth, if you do not want to believe that I resigned, ask the President. We will know based on his answer. Do not spread fake news.)
On October 3, Uson announced her decision to step down from office and possibly run in the 2019 mid-term elections.
Uson’s resignation was accepted by the President, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said on the same day that the former Communications official made the announcement.
Uson was a former leader of the all-female Mocha Girls dance group before she became a public official.(Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)