Mocha Uson isn’t all praises for Duterte administration

Entertainer turned blogger Mocha Uson isn’t all praises for the Duterte administration.

In an interview with INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, Uson, who is a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, took notice of the gaffe of the communications team of the President and how his statements were being interpreted.

“Yung sa communications part. Kasi first time tayo nagkaroon ng pangulo na very radical hanggang sa pananalita niya,” Uson said when asked about what she thought was the weakness of the current administration.

But she said the communications team of the President was still “in the period of adjustment.”

“At may problema sa communication, so siguro, I think, maayos naman yun in time, just ano, in the period of adjustment, 100 days pa lang naman diba? I think we can adjust at ma-iiprove pa yung communication,” she said.
In his public speeches, Duterte has complained that his statements have been misunderstood by media and his critics.

The communications team of the President has received flak for their blunders and conflicting statements in clarifying Duterte’s pronouncements and speeches.

To address this concern, Malacañang has issued a memorandum saying that Duterte has only one official spokesperson and Cabinet members should not be too quick to speak on his behalf.

The memorandum said “official statements of the President on significant national and international issues” should only be issued by presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

In his absence, all statements on behalf of the President will be delivered only by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

‘Proven track record’

Except for the communication blunders, Uson was all support for Duterte, saying he has a “proven track record” in serving as a local executive in Davao City for more than two decades.

“Duterte has a proven track record at nakapunta na po ako sa Davao ilang beses na and nakita ko po yung ano yung magandang pamamalakad dun,” she said.

“The Davaoaeños follow the law—walang jaywalking, no smoking—at tsaka yung nakakausap ko yung mga taga Davao, they love their mayor so much,” she added.

Uson said she vowed her full support for Duterte the day he declared his candidacy because she wanted the Philippines to be progressive like Davao City.

“So when I did my research, nakita ko yung isang bayan na walang bahid ng korapsyon and I thought baka pwedeng buong Pilipinas pwedeng ganito rin,” she said. “Kaya nung nag-declare siya, nag-aanounce siyana he was running, yun I also declared my support for him.”

No interest in politics

Despite being vocal on political issues, Uson said she had no plans of entering politics.

“I have no interest in entering politics,” she said. “Kasi ano e napakabigat na responsibildad ya. Talagang panawagan yan na magtrabaho ka sa gobyern. Kailangang full time, 100 percent.”

“Para sa akin, I can serve through volunteering, volunteerism,” she added, saying this was her advocacy.

She said one need not have a government position to help the country.

“I encourage everyone to volunteer, help the government, at hindi mo nanan ng government position to help your country,” she said.

Love your critics

Asked about how she dealt with her critics, she said had learned to love them.

“Sabi kasi nila, the more you hate the more you love. So I just love them,” she said. “And it’s their freedom to hate me and it’s also my freedom to keep doing what I do.”

Uson had earlier tagged some media outfits as “presstitutes” for what she perceived as biased reporting on their part. But she said she had friends from the media industry.

“Marami akong kaibigan na journalist,” she said. “Ang mga nasasaktan lang naman diyan e yung mga natatamaan. Kung hindi naman totoo na ‘presstitute’ ka, bakit ka mag ngangangawa-ngawa. I’m not generalizing at marami akong friends sa press.” —ATM