Fake news? Mocha draws flak for EDSA poll

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson once again drew criticisms from netizens following a Facebook poll she posted regarding the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986.

On February 25, the same day as the 32nd anniversary of the EDSA revolution, Uson created a poll asking her followers whether they believe that the revolt against the Marcos regime was a product of "fake news."

READ: Mocha Uson sorry for saying Mayon in Naga

The poll, which garnered around 61,800 votes, ended with 84 percent saying "yes" while 16 percent said "no."

Many netizens called out Uson for her Facebook poll implying that the 1986 EDSA revolution, which toppled the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos, was merely a product of "fake news."

The poll itself is an insult to Philippine history and to the thousands of Filipinos who took to the streets to overthrow the authoritarian regime of Marcos.

The People Power Revolution paved the way for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines, along with the crafting of the 1987 Constitution.

to paraphrase my favorite, rene saguisag:

"i'm sorry but i cannot fill the gap in your education."  https://t.co/z5R8oIiSdG

— Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (@lyndajumilla) February 26, 2018

“Sayang ang buwis na binabayad ko kung mag proprotesta lang kayo.” — ay wow. I’d gladly pay double the taxes if they go towards education. Alam mo kung san sayang buwis na binabayad mo? Kay Mocha Uson, the purveyor of fake news. Php 100k+ a month to divide the country. Wow

— camie juan (@camiejuan) February 26, 2018

Gets kong failed yung pinangakong democracy ng EDSA pero yung people power mismo fake news? Imagine yung 93% historical revisionism. This is blatant disrespect to the bravery of people power. pic.twitter.com/qtm04Ggij0

— -`, calonia ,`- (@aivancalonia) February 25, 2018

Si Mocha Uson yung classmate mong nautusang mag-pagpag ng eraser sa labas ng classroom habang tinuturo ang tungkol sa EDSA Revolution sa Sibika at Kultura.

— AltAsecMargauxUson (@AsecMargauxUson) February 26, 2018

The poll made by Mocha Uson's blog about the EDSA PP1 is total bullshit. Do they really think that one of the most significant events that made our country what it is today, is only a product of fake news????

— markeu (@mahkieysg) February 26, 2018

Mocha Uson's recent Fb poll, saying that the EDSA People Power is a product of fake news, bastardizes the people's mass movement. The poll reeks of stupidy and ignorance.

That is why a nationalist, scientific & mass-oriented education is important, and should be instituted.

— Abdul Rauf Sissay (@raufsissay) February 25, 2018

Let this sink in:

Mocha Uson and her foul minions saying "EDSA People Power was a product of fake news" is an utter distortion of history and disrespect to Filipinos who've sacrificed their lives in order for us to experience democracy today. #FireMocha

— Art Lubiano (@realfoxe) February 26, 2018

Know what, Mocha Uson? 'Di produkto ng fake news ang EDSA Revolution. Some people genuinely got tired of Marcos & inilaglag siya ni Reagan. He was DONE! Alam mo problema? 'Yung mga pumalit, they're nowhere near as advertised. 30+ years later, they just got richer & more powerful.

— Will Galang (@willgalang) February 26, 2018

Ang 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution ay isa daw na malaking FAKE NEWS.

Ang kasalukuyang konstitusyon ng Pilipinas ay isa sa mga resulta ng diumanong FAKE NEWS na EDSA People Power.

Kaya pala eto ‘yung unang binasa ni Mocha, kasi akala niya repository ito ng FAKE NEWS pic.twitter.com/Is7SjUkPUK

— Kiko  (@kikocorpuz) February 25, 2018

Masakit na ang ulo ko pero mas sumakit pa nung nabasa ko yung kagaguhan ni Mocha. I know na galit sya sa mga Aquino kasi nga tuta sya ng Presidente pero yung pagdudahan at imungkahi nya na isang produkto ng fake news ang 1986 Edsa Revolution ay isang malaking kabastusan na yun.

— Justine Villafuerte (@JustVillafuerte) February 26, 2018

Kris Aquino also took to Twitter to call out "trolls" and "fake news purveyors" in defense to her late mother, former President Cory Aquino.

So much of our history is trying to be rewritten & erased by those paying their trolls & fake news purveyors to whitewash their culpability for the killings & suffering they inflicted on our country during the years before our democracy from the dictatorship in 1986. pic.twitter.com/0ThhFxYhWA

— Kris Aquino (@krisaquino214) February 26, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte himself has released a statement acknowledging the People Power Revolution as a "symbol of our determination to fight for what is right."

“More than three decades ago, we have shown the world how a people’s courage and resolve can alter the course of our nation’s history,” Duterte said.

READ: 'Fire Mocha' trends after PCOO asec's latest gaffe

Duterte's mother, Nanay Soling, was among the leaders of the "Yellow Friday Movement" in Davao City, a movement that opposed the Marcos regime in the 1970s to 1980s.

On Monday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stressed that the EDSA Revolution was not a product of "fake news."

READ: Nancy to Mocha: It's time to decide, asec or blogger?

“According to the law, it is not fake news. According to the law, we honor the EDSA Revolution having declared it as a public holiday... so we still recognize and we will always recognize EDSA not only as an important historical event but it was the first bloodless people power revolution in the whole planet earth and it remains significant," Roque said.