Martin Andanar: 'We can’t discipline Mocha Uson'

MANILA, Philippines — Martin Andanar told congressmen yesterday that he does not possess the power to discipline his subordinate, controversial blogger Mocha Uson, “because she is a presidential appointee.”

“That power is lodged with the Office of the President,” he told Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate in the course of a House of Representatives appropriations committee hearing on the proposed P1.5-billion PCOO budget for 2019.

Andanar, who heads the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), is the immediate boss of Uson, an assistant secretary for social media.

He said the letter-request of several PCOO officials seeking Uson’s removal has been sent to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who was reportedly irked by the video.

“It is still pending there,” he added.

Andanar’s underlings made the call for Uson’s ouster after she posted her controversial “Ipepe-idede-ipederalismo” video that was supposed to promote federalism but drew the ire of lawmakers and netizens.

The officials also called on their PCOO colleague to apologize for her vulgar video.            

For his part, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) chief Harold Clavite asked Uson not only to say sorry but to go on leave. PIA is also an office under Andanar’s command.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, the principal proponent of federalism in the Senate, urged Uson to take a break for three months to study federalism.