Mocha, co-host reap criticism for 'federalism' video

MANILA, Philippines — A video by Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson and her "co-host" to supposedly create awareness on federalism has earned them criticism from lawmakers and federalism advocates instead.

Uson is in hot water again after Drew Olivar, her co-host in an online 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.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that “theatrical techniques” will not do good to promote the proposed shift to a federal form of government to the public.

“Theatrical techniques will not work to explain a very serious and [highfalutin] issue such as federalism,” he said.

Theatrical techniques will not work to explain a very serious and high falluting issue such as Federalism! @inquirerdotnet @ABSCBNNews @gmanews

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) August 6, 2018

Sen. Francis Kiko Pangilinan, who chairs the constitutional amendments committee, expressed his disgust over the video, which used the Filipino slang for vagina and breast.

“Kabababuyan at kalaswaan ang tawag sa ginagawa nila at hindi public service. Ang pambabastos at pambababoy ng isang assistant secretary ay di dapat pinalalampas ng administrasyon (What they are doing is vulgarity and lewdness, not public service. The administration should not let vulgarity and lewdness by an assistant secretary slide),” he said Monday.

Pangilinan also said that Communications Secretary Martin Andanar should explain for his subordinate’s “lewd” act. 

Sen. Francis Escudero also thumbed down the federalism video, saying it “intentionally [offends] our sense of propriety.”

Escudero, who is a member of the Senate majority, said: "It is downright vulgar and has no place in the public discourse on such an important issue as their proposed shift to federalism and charter change."

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who earlier noted that the charter change for federalism is up for “cremation” at the upper chamber, said Monday that with Uson, “the ashes should thrown far, far away from the Philippines’ 7,107 beautiful islands.”

Sen. Nancy Binay said that federalism is “not an amusement piece, nor is it a comedy material.”

“It is saddening that the seriousness of the discourse has been downgraded to the lowest of forms,” she said. 

Concom on video: Not what we discussed 

In a reply to former Commission on Elections commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal’s tweet calling the video “disturbing,” Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, a member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s consultative committee, also expressed his frustration online.

“I agree and I am disgusted,” Aquino said.

I agree and I am disgusted.

— Fr. Ranhilio Aquino (@RanhilioAquino) August 5, 2018

Earlier, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III slammed Uson for the video and urged her to go on leave to study the issue.

“Di ko lubos akalain na bababuyin pala nila ang kawa ng pederalismo. Ilayo na si Mocha sa pederalismo. Mag-aral muna siya ng mabuti. Mag-leave muna siya (I never thought that they would insult the cause of federalism. Take Mocha away from federalism. Let her study first. She should go on leave first.),” the federalism advocate said.

Asked if he was angry with Uson's video on federalism, Pimentel said he was more disappointed that “the best and the brightest” appointees of the Duterte administration could only come up with “that kind of bullshit.”

READ: Koko urges Mocha to go on leave after 'federalism' video

In an interview on CNN Philippines, Concom spokesperson Ding Generoso said that it is “rather unfortunate that something like this would come out.”

“Hindi ganyan ‘yung napag-usapan namin. (That is not what we discussed) We discussed during the meeting last Friday the materials that would explain the benefits of federalism to the people especially those in the provinces,” he said.

Generoso also said that Concom will issue a statement later Monday.

As a response to criticism, Uson said that the online show was produced before she was tapped by the Concom and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to help in the promotion of federalism.

Related video: