Mocha still enjoys Duterte’s trust — Andanar

Assistant secretary Mocha Uson still enjoys President Duterte’s trust and confidence, and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar is not keen on firing the controversial official after netizens wanted her out following a series of blunders in her social media posts.

Andanar also downplayed the hashtag #fireMocha that became a trending topic after Uson urged Vice President Leni Robredo and other opposition senators to also visit the wake of a police intelligence officer who was killed a year ago.

This came after top government officials went to the wake of 17-yearold high school student Kian Loyd delos Santos, who was killed during a police anti-drug operation in Caloocan City last Aug. 16.

“Well, she basically just – you know Mocha, she just moves forward eh. Whatever happens to her online and whatever hashtag trends, as I said, you know, it shouldn’t be fire Mocha, it should be Mocha on fire,” he said in an interview aired over CNN Philippines.

Uson, a former leader of a sexy dance group, campaigned for Duterte when he ran for president and eventually won last year.

Now that Uson is part of the government, Andanar noted that she also needs to face accountability for her posts even if she has declared that her Facebook account and blog should be considered as private accounts.

“I think that is really the price that she has to pay. First, she had a disclaimer that her views are her own and that (her posts) are not connected to the PCOO. We agreed to that,” Andanar said.

“So, if her posts become controversial, then she will have to answer for that. But then again, of course, as the head of agency I still end up answering,” he lamented.

While he is preoccupied with many responsibilities, Andanar admitted blunders like these take much of his attention.

“No, I don’t sweep under the rug,” he said, adding that he has confronted Uson over the tweet. “When I see her at the office, ‘kumusta ka na, OK ka lang ba?’ ‘OK lang, sir. Kasi gusto kong bantayan, gusto kong protektahan si Presidente.’ You know, si Mocha Uson, still in a campaign mode until now,” Andanar said.

Andanar’s hands are full with administrative matters within agencies under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) but he has been sidelined by the blunders at the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and the Palace-backed project to accredit social media users to cover the President’s official activities.

Apart from Uson, a communications undersecretary is under fire for allegedly playing favorites when President Duterte called on members of the Malacañang Press Corps for a pep talk over dinner early this month.

Andanar gave credit to Uson for being protective of Duterte, who has given her unfiltered access during his foreign trips abroad as well as his trips to Marawi City despite security concerns.