MANILA – Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson has been administratively charged for allegedly spreading “fake news.”
Akbayan Youth filed the complaint against the pro-Duterte blogger and celebrity-turned-government official at the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday.
Malacañang was confident Uson would be able to defend herself.
“Meron naman mga processes to follow and observe,” said Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra. “She will be given a fair chance to be able to explain.”
In its 10-page complaint, Akbayan Youth called for Uson’s “removal from office and dismissal from service.”
The youth organization accused her of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.
But Gueverra already defended Uson. He said the communications official does not spread false information.
“She’s consistently denied it, so I’ll take her word for it,” said the senior presidential aide. “As [her] fellow worker, I’ll take her word for it.”
Uson has been highly criticized for posting provocative if not utterly wrong information on her Facebook page while serving as a government official.
Just this January Uson mistakenly said in a video posted on the social networking site that Mayon Volcano is located in Naga City.
Uson was first appointed to a government post in January 2017, as a board member in the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
Presidential Rodrigo Duterte named her assistant secretary at the Presidential Communications Operations Office in May that year./PN
