MOCHA USON FACING ANOTHER COMPLAINT
Last year, criminal charges were also filed against Uson by Trillanes for spreading ‘fake news’
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson is now facing a new administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for purportedly peddling fake news.
The complaint was lodged before the Ombudsman yesterday morning by the Akbayan Youth group, who accused Uson of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service for being the source of “numerous and deliberate misinformation.”
The group claimed Uson’s pro-administration blog on Facebook has become a source of an “arbitrary ascertainment of facts” that encouraged “cyberbullying attacks.”
“The online and public persona of public official Uson is the source of numerous and deliberate misinformation,” the complaint read. “This is
Group claimed Uson’s pro-administration blog on Facebook has become a source of an “arbitrary ascertainment of facts” that encouraged “cyberbullying attacks.”
contrary to the PCOO to ensure transparency and full and appropriate disclosure of policies, programs, official activities, and achievements of the Office of the President and the Executive Branch which are of public concern, and to inform and communicate the same to the Filipino people,” it added.
Akbayan Youth added that it sought Uson’s removal from office and dismissal from service, as she is “not competent to discharge her functions as a public officer.”
But Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra defended Uson, saying he does not believe that the assistant secretary is spreading false information.
“Of course not...To tell you frankly, I’m not reading everything that’s in the blogs. I don’t have much time to go over all of these things but she has consistently denied it. So I take her word for it. As a fellow worker, I take her word for it,” he said.
Guevarra expressed optimism that Uson would be able to defend herself over accusation that she is spreading fake news.
“I’m sure Asec. Mocha will be able to defend herself. There are processes to follow and to observe, and she’ll be given her fair chance to be able to explain,” he said.
In 2017, administrative and criminal charges were also filed against Uson by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for spreading “fake news” regarding the latter’s supposed foreign bank accounts. /