MANILA – Malacañang apologized to actress and host Kris Aquino for a communications aide’s taking a swipe at the latter’s father, the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, in a video on Facebook, compared a video of President Rodrigo Duterte kissing a married Filipina in South Korea to that of an old clip showing two women kissing Ninoy Aquino.
Uson was apparently defending Duterte’s act while on an official visit in Seoul from critics who expressed disgust, insinuating that Ninoy Aquino was spared from such criticism.
Kris Aquino slammed Uson on her social media pages, saying the Palace’s communications aide “crossed the line” by making her relive the pain her father’s assassination caused her and besmirching their family’s name.
“We convey our apologies for the incident concerning her (Aquino) and Mocha (Uson),” Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said in a hastily called news conference Wednesday. “We understand the emotion of both sides.”
Go said Uson – a sexy dancer, blogger and rabid supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte who now handles the social media platforms of Malacañang – agreed to put the issue to rest.
The Palace’s communications aide is also expected to apologize to the actress and host, said Go. “Nagusap na kami ni Mocha kanina at nagkasundo na tapusin na ang isyung ito.”
On Wednesday Kris Aquino thanked Go for apologizing for Uson’s act.
“Thank you for taking my feelings as a daughter into consideration and showing me empathy,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I am most grateful for a man as powerful as you are now for texting and Viber-ing me the words ‘we are sorry for the incident,’” she said.
On Instagram and Twitter, Kris Aquino lashed at Uson. Aside from making her relive the pain of losing her father, Uson also reminded her how much she hurt her mother, the late former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino, Kris Aquino said.
But for all her indiscretions, Kris Aquino said, she “covered up for nothing and no one.”
“I admitted to all my mistakes, and because my mother loved me and I wanted to be a good mother myself, I did my best to live a better life,” the actress and host said.
Kris Aquino also challenged Uson: “Kung may gusto kang punching bag, please ako na lang. Kasi buhay ako, kaya kitang sagutin. At hindi kita uurungan.”
Uson’s response, via another video on Facebook, was nothing close to an apology – contrary to what Go said the Malacañang communications aide was expected to make.
“This is not about Kris Aquino,” Uson said in the 23-second clip. “Tungkol ito sa paglagay ng malisya sa isang halik. Itinumbas lang sa gawain ng ibang lider tulad ng tatay niya. Ms. Aquino, this is not about you.”
She also posted on Facebook, “With all due respect to everyone involved, I decline to apologize for the truth.”/PN
