MANILA, Philippines — Presidential communications assistant secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson’s campaign for federalism is off to a rocky start.
Uson is facing yet another controversy after a co-host of her online show performed a suggestive dance supposedly to create public awareness about federalism.
Drew Olivar, Uson’s co-host in the “Good News Game Show,” chanted “i-pepe” and “i-dede” while gesturing to his crotch and chest. He then yelled “i-pederalismo” at the end of the dance number, which lasted about 30 seconds.
“Pepe” is Filipino childspeak for the female genitals while “dede” is a term for breast.
The dance number drew flak from users of social networking sites, some of whom think Uson is just wasting taxpayers’ money. Some internet users called the dance number “cheap,” “a piece of s***” and a “disrespect” for Filipinos’ mental capacity.
They also called Uson and Olivar names like “termite” and “parasite.”
The online video surfaced days after Uson promised to help in the government’s information drive on Charter change (Cha-cha) and the proposed federal charter.
Uson clarified that the consultative committee (Concom) formed to review the 1987 Constitution had nothing to do with the dance number.
Concom spokesman Ding Generoso earlier said Uson could help spread awareness about the advantages of federalism because she has several followers online.
“To our viewers, just a disclaimer... Our game has nothing to do with the draft of the Concom. This is just for fun, just a general information so we will be aware of federalism,” Uson said in Filipino.
“This is not yet the information and dissemination campaign and the Concom has nothing to do with it,” she added.
Critics have expressed reservation over the plan to tap Uson for the information campaign, saying she had been assailed in the past for spreading misleading information.
In the same online show, Olivar read a script defining federalism and enumerating the countries that adopted it. He then compared federalism’s objectives to a rainbow.
“The rainbow has seven colors... It has different colors and it is beautiful. That is the aim of federalism. Despite our differences, we can unite and shine together,” he said.
Uson also uploaded an online video showing her interviewing Trixie Angeles, a lawyer and supporter of President Duterte, about federalism.
Angeles explained that the Philippines has amended its Constitution several times.
“There’s nothing wrong with it (Cha-cha) because our laws reflect our ideals. Sometimes, these things change. Our needs also change,” she said.
Angeles said there is too much concentration of power in Metro Manila so there is a need to give more autonomy to other regions.
‘Make federalism understandable’
Vice President Leni Robredo urged the government to make the topic of federalism more understandable to ordinary Filipinos.
“Most of those who attended the federalism caravan said the explanation of federalism is very general (that this is the answer to poverty),” Robredo said in her weekly program BISErbisyong Leni over dzXL.
She said the government should be “realistic” about federalism.
“I hope they give a realistic explanation (of federalism) so people will be given the right to decide based on his or her understanding of it,” she said. – With Helen Flores, Eva Visperas