Robredo: ‘Pepedederalismo’ blogger not helping cause of federalism, Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The attempt of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and her blogger co-host to supposedly create awareness on federalism is not helping the administration’s cause, Vice President Leni Robredo said Thursday.

The controversial video—which has earned the ire of social media users, lawmakers and federalism advocates—showed blogger Drew Olivar chanting “i-pepe” and “i-dede” while gesturing to his crotch and chest.

The script read by Olivar in the video also made a wrong claim about federalism. Of the three countries mentioned by Olivar, only the United States has a federal form of government. The two other countries he mentioned were France and Singapore.

Robredo said the video only gives a bad impression of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“People like them do not help President Duterte. If it was their intent to help, they have failed,” Robredo said in Filipino.

She added: “When they resort to means like this, they are not only disrespecting the president but the Filipinos as well.”

The video was filmed in Malacañang during office hours.

Uson, however, earlier said that experts on federalism should take advantage of the buzz that the video created to explain the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

Duterte was also “very cool” about the video, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Olivar, in a separate video days after he and Uson made waves online over the federalism video, cursed and raised sexual allegations against Robredo.

He accused the vice president of going on a trip to South Africa just to engage in sex and sending her daughter Aika to Harvard University using public money.

Robredo said she does not want to give attention to people who spread lies about her online. But many are urging her to press charges, she added.

Robredo’s spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez, earlier said that her legal team was considering filing cases against Olivar.

“The possibility is being studied seriously by her lawyers,” Gutierrez said.

READ: Robredo's lawyers mulling cases vs 'pepederalismo' blogger