‘Fire Mocha? Good name for my coffee shop’

MANILA, Philippines — A youth group is seeking the dismissal of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson for allegedly spreading misinformation through her social media accounts.

In a 12-page complaint filed yesterday, Akbayan Youth said Uson should be removed from her post for committing administrative offenses of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The group chanted, “How do you like your Mocha? Fired!” before proceeding to the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City to file the complaint.

Uson shrugged off the complaint and thanked the group, saying it gave her an idea for the name of her future business.

“I thank the Akbayan Youth because they gave me an idea on the name of my future coffee shop. It will be ‘Fire Mocha Cafe.’ Watch out for that. Thank you. Let’s have coffee,” Uson said in a video posted on her Facebook account.

The group said Uson must not be allowed to remain in office as she is the “source of numerous and deliberate misinformation,” which is contrary to the PCOO’s mandate of ensuring transparency and delivery of accurate information to the people.

“Uson is not competent to discharge her functions as a public officer. She not only showed gross ignorance on provisions of the Constitution and of Philippine geography, but also unlawfully uses her blog to spread misinformation,” the complaint read.

The group cited some of the blunders allegedly committd by Uson, like saying that Mayon Volcano is in Naga as well as posting on her Facebook blog of a photograph of Honduran policemen, labeling it as Filipino soldiers fighting in Marawi City.

It said Uson exposed several students of St. Scholastica’s College in Quezon City to cyberbullying and online attacks when she posted that the school required them to attend a rally opposing the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Wittingly or unwittingly, Uson’s action was the cause of oppression against the innocent students who were merely exercising their right to peaceful protest. There is no doubt that Uson is a threat to the security of people who criticize the government,” the complaint read.

Malacañang, for its part, is confident that Uson could defend herself.

“I’m sure Asec. Mocha will be able to defend herself. There are processes to follow and to observe and she’ll be given her fair chance to be able to explain,” Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a press briefing.

Asked if he agrees that Uson is purveying fake news, Guevarra said: “Of course not.”

Akbayan Youth said Uson is also abusing her powers to “stifle dissent” especially of officials from the opposition.

It cited an instance when Uson, in her commentary radio program on dzRH, repeatedly cursed Vice President Leni Robredo, calling the latter “bobo” or stupid. – Alexis Romero