Group for deaf community sues Mocha Uson

MANILA, Philippines — Another criminal complaint has been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman against presidential communications assistant secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, this time over a video seen as a “mockery” of the deaf community.

In the complaint filed yesterday, Carolyn Dagani, president of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD), urged the ombudsman to investigate Uson for possible violation of Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities, RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, RA 386 or the Civil Code of the Philippines and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Charged with Uson was blogger and radio commentator Drew Olivar.

Dagani and her fellow complainant Lauro Purcil, convenor of the Philippine Coalition on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also called on the ombudsman to place Uson under preventive suspension and, if found liable, order her dismissal from office.

Malacañang said it would let go of Uson if ordered by the ombudsman. “Let’s wait for the decision of the ombudsman on the complaint. The ombudsman can already order the dismissal of anyone in government, because it is both an administrative and a criminal case,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing yesterday.

“The Palace will respect the process. If the ombudsman orders her dismissal, we will not oppose it,” he said in Filipino.

The complaint stemmed from a 48-second video posted on Uson’s Facebook account on Sept. 14. The video, captioned “Pepedederalismo for Deaf People,” features Olivar, pretending to be deaf while making hand gestures mimicking the sign language of deaf people. Olivar was also squeaking, apparently imitating a deaf trying to communicate verbally. Uson, who was recording the video, could be heard laughing.

She was also heard on the video telling Olivar, “mukha kang unggoy (you look like a monkey),” while the latter was making facial expressions and hand gestures.

The official appeared at the end of the video laughing with Olivar.

“The ‘Pepedederalismo for Deaf People’ video done by Drew Olivar and Mocha Uson is an insult to the entire deaf community and to all persons with disabilities,” Dagani said in her complaint-affidavit.

“Mocha Uson and Drew Olivar were laughing and making fun of us. Together, they stepped all over us and crushed us, killing our dignity,” Dagani pointed out.

“Deaf people do not make fun of hearing people when they speak and use spoken languages and yet Mocha Uson and Drew Olivar have mocked us. This is discrimination,” she added.

Uson and Olivar have publicly apologized for the video after drawing flak from netizens. But for Dagani and Purcil, apology is not enough, especially for Uson who is a public official.

“We would like to see penalties applied if this is prudent. They can learn their lesson and this will be an example for others. It’s easy for them to apologize and change their minds. But this will really set a bad example if it is not penalized,” Dagani said.

“No, we don’t accept. There’s so many deaf people that we have asked and I’d like to tell you that they don’t accept (the) apology,” she added.

Just recently, the two also drew the ire of netizens and several lawmakers for campaigning for federalism through a song and dance video laced with sexual innuendos.

Uson is currently facing a separate administrative complaint of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service before the ombudsman for allegedly spreading misinformation through her social media accounts. The complaint was filed by the Akbayan Youth last April.

Uson is also facing a criminal complaint of graft, breach of conduct, cyber libel and violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act filed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV with the ombudsman in September last year.

The complaint stemmed from Uson’s publication of Trillanes’ supposed fake bank accounts on social media. Alexis Romero