MANILA – Opposition senators and representatives were glad that Margaux “Mocha” Uson has resigned as assistant secretary at the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV told a television interview that Uson’s resignation was “a welcome development.” “Marami na tayong kababayan na nagrereklamo sa approach ni Asec. Mocha sa paghahatid ng mensahe ng Duterte administration,” he told GMA “News to Go” on Wednesday.
“I wish her well in future endeavors,” said Trillanes, who filed libel and graft complaints against Uson last year.
But Uson’s resignation was “too little, too late,” since the damage brought by her actions cannot be undone, said Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
“It is an extremely belated gesture rendered insignificant in the face of gross incompetence, state-sponsored vulgarity and the proliferation of fake news,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“It has come very late in response to the public’s demand for accountability,” the senator added. “Aanhin pa ang resignation kung nalulunod na ang bansa sa baha ng fake news ni Ms. Uson?”
Hontiveros added: “She has not only successfully planted the seeds of untruth inside the government. She has made sure it bore fruit to sow confusion and poison the public’s mind.”
Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan party-list) had the same sentiment as Hontiveros but still welcomed Uson’s move.
“Too little, too late. Her deeds have poisoned the air we breathe. [Her resignation is] a whiff of fresh air though,” Villarin said in a statement.
Meanwhile Rep. Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao) said President Rodrigo Duterte was merely “ridding himself of excess baggage.”
The President was trying to “shore up its plummeting image due to incompetence and insensitivity,” Baguilat said.
“Unfortunately for Asec. Mocha, notoriety didn’t translate into success in the PCOO. Iyong kaisa-isang malinaw na tungkulin na ibinigay sa kanya ng Pangulo (federalism information and education campaign) e nagdulot ng embarrassment sa Malacañang,” he added./PN
