MANILA, Philippines — A party-list solon will return the award given by the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association Inc. after it recognized Communications Assistant Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson for her service in the government.
Anakbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, who was awarded by the UAAI for public service, questioned UAAI’s move to honor Uson.
“I refuse to buy into their recent justification for awarding Mocha Uson that one only needed to be a graduate of our Alma Mater and be part of government. If that were true, then all Thomasian civil servants should have also been given such an award,” Villarin said.
He said that he decided at first to accept the award in good faith.
“But here is something that’s undeniably true: it is shameful and unpleasant for someone to accept the award when one’s actions go against the core values of Thomasians—truth in charity—as well as public accountability and transparency in government,” Villarin said.
The Anakbayan representative stressed that Uson has corrupted the values of Thomasians, as she described her as a “purveyor of fake news, an unrepentant violator of ethical standards in journalism and a free-flowing fountain of foul language.”
“Awards should distinguish role models from the rest based on merit. Awards should stand for something but if they can mean anything, then they are nothing,” she added.
Filipino-American novelist Bino Realuyo, who was honored for his contributions in literature, also expressed his intent to return the award he received from the university.
“Her idea of change has resulted in the death of many Filipinos. I am sure there are many unsung and worthy alumni of UST whom you can honor and recognize. Mocha Uson is certainly not one of them,” he said.
Realuyo also said that Uson’s award is “an insult to all UST alumni who believe in upholding one of the pillars of strong democracies—veritas (truth).”
READ: UST: University not involved in award for Mocha Uson
Call for the resignation of alumni leadership
The Varsitarian, the official student publication of UST, also slammed decision of UAAI to honor Uson and called for the resignation of the association’s leaders.
“For the entire UAAI leadership to have ignored her dubious track record and the controversy it had elicited is sheer incompetence, irresponsibility, stupidity and even corruption,” Varsitarian wrote in a strongly-worded editorial.
It said that UAAI manifested “banality of evil and perpetuated a libel on UST” by giving the awards with UST’s name on it to Uson.
In a statement released Monday, UST denied it had anything to do in the decision to recognize Uson.
Uson’s inclusion in the list created buzz on social media Sunday night, with many individuals, including Thomasians, saying she is undeserving of the award.
UST Central Student Council issued a statement saying Uson, whom it described as "widely known as the main purveyor of politically-motivated propaganda against known members of the government's opposition, and an avid spreader of fake news" did not deserve the citation.