Fake news queen
“The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity,” says British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
It seems college student Rocky Nicor is bound for posterity.
During a forum held at Vianney Hall in San Sebastian Cathedral last week with Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Nicor queried what the youth can do against Esther Margaux Justiniano “Mocha” Uson, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
“As a student, I find it insulting to the Filipinos what Assistant Secretary Uson did. Uson, as a public official, whom people looked up to... What she did on the ‘Pepe-dederalismo’ video has sent a wrong signal to the Filipinos. Uson does not deserve to work in the government because she always violates the Code of Ethics of a public official,” Nicor said.
Nicor echoed my sentiments. “The Train Law which was passed that will supposedly serve for the betterment of the Philippines, the bigger pie of the budget amounting to P90 million just went to Uson, despite the indecency that only degrades the image of the country.”
I can understand his sentiments. As the Assistant Secretary for Social Media under the PCOO, Miss Uson gets a monthly gross salary of at least P128,467 on top of her allowance and bonuses broken down as:
• A monthly Rata (Representation and Transportation Allowances) amounting to P20,000 (P10,000 for representation and another P10,000 for transportation)
• P5,000 monthly extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses
• P2,000 monthly Pera (Personal Economic Relief Allowance)
• Mid-year and year-end bonus Are Filipino taxpayers paying part of their hard-earned income so they can hear Uson’s personal opinions? How are citizens being enlightened? How can students of Hekasi (Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika) absorb knowledge when she quipped that Mayon Volcano is located in Naga and not Albay?
As fast foods ads would say, Filipino taxpayers are not getting value for their money. Uson has quite a record of fake news and misinformation, and Wikipedia seems to be keeping a list.
Student Nicor has echoed Senator Grace Poe who suggested that Uson’s position as a Presidential Communications secretary and as a blogger might be overlapping with the law.
During a Senate hearing on the proliferation of fake news in January, Poe cited Section 4(b) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which states that public officials and employees during incumbency shall
5. danay, dane² – (palagyu) kabalantyang balen o kalungsuran.English – suburb, neighboring place, town or city. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Anting dane ning Masantul,ing balen ning Makabebe maralas ya naming lalbug neng kauran uling mengari lang mitataid a pusad.”
IRIYANG KAPAMPANGAN: Danum. Nung atin kanung dayu o kamaganak a salangi keng pibalebale yu, apaganan meng danum pamu bayu ya pakanan bang pane mung mayap a balita ing dala na keka. Tanu kayang kape o tsa, nanung malyari? Mekad pane indredus o marok a balita ing dala na. Nung e me apaganan, mekad e ya bumulad metung mang amanu.
PAMIPALINO: Ing Kapisik magnasaya at manwalang misubling pasibayu ing lagablab ning legwan ning Kalinangan Kapampangan kapamilatan ding keying dalit, kawatasan, amlat at miyayaliwang kapaglalangan a misulat king pigmulan at tune kulitan kambe ning dalise at mapagmasabal a pamisip at parasan. Ing panyulat ding pipumpunan yang sukat mataluki at miparangalan kapamilatan ning pamangamit kareti at aliwa ring karing dayu at salungat a paralan dang dela keti Kapampangan. Ing Kapisik ala yang kikilingan a kapanaligan, aguman o ninu man nung e ing Lubusang Katutwan.