Mocha Uson resigns from PCOO, eyes legislative post
But she was quick to silence her critics as she vowed to take the fight to Congress.
Uson, whose name has been floated as one of the ruling party’s senatorial bets for the 2019 mid-term elections, has yet to announce her political plans. Filing of the certificates of candidacy is scheduled for October 11 to 17.
"Para po sa mga nagbabatikos sa akin, huwag po kayong magkakamaling isipin na nagtagumpay kayo. Hindi ako nagbitiw sa posisyon dahil takot akong harapin kayo. Gusto ko lang na kapag nagkaharap tayo, patas ang laban," she said. (To those who are criticizing me, do not think that you have already won. I did not resign from my post because I am afraid to face you. I want a fair fight when I face you.)
"Balang araw magkakaharap din po tayo. Ngunit hindi tulad ninyo na nag-tatago sa inyong posisyon. Handa akong lumaban bilang ordinaryong Pilipino kasama ng mga walang boses sa lipunan. Dadalhin ko ang laban sa Senado at sa Kongreso (Someday, we will face each other. But unlike you, I will not hide behind my position. I am ready to fight as an ordinary Filipino. I will fight for those who are voiceless in our society. I will bring the fight to the Senate and the House of Representatives),” she added.
Uson, a former leader of all-female Mocha Girls dance group before she was appointed to a government post, announced her resignation during the Senate deliberations on the proposed 2019 budget for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
"Ako po ay nagdesisyon na mag-resign na po (I have decided to resign from post)," she said.
With a Facebook page that has 5.7 million followers, Uson has consistently drawn flak for spreading fake news through her social media posts.
She has also earned the public's ire over a video featuring a lewd jingle promoting federalism and another clip mocking the deaf community.
Despite Uson's controversial acts, President Rodrigo Duterte on September 3 said that while the Communications official may have gone overboard with some of her actions, she has the right to enjoy her constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Malacañang also said on September 18 that Duterte has a "very high" tolerance for the freedom of expression being enjoyed by Uson.
Prior to being a Communications official, Uson was appointed by Duterte as a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.