Sanctions unlikely
MANILA, Philippines — It will be up to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to deal with a new controversial video by Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and her blogger friend, the Palace said.
"We leave that to Secretary Martin Andanar, he is the superior of [Assistant Secretary] Mocha," presidential spokesperson Roque said in a press briefing.
Andanar has already admitted to lawmakers that he has no power to discipline Uson "because she is a presidential appointee."
Roque on new video by Asec. Uson and blogger friend Olivar: His (Duterte) tolerance for freedom of expression is very high but we leave it to (PCOO) Secretary Andanar
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) September 18, 2018
Asked about a video that has been criticized as disrespectful of persons with disabilities, Roque told reporters at a press briefing Tuesday that: "As far as the President is concerned, his tolerance for freedom of expression is very high."
Olivar apologizes for video
Blogger Drew Olivar has posted an apology over the video of him doing a supposedly comical version of sign language.
Olivar said he was humbling himself and admitting he was wrong.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry po. Patawarin niyo po ako sa pagiging insensitive ko, sa pagiging childish ko (Forgive me for being insensitive and childish)," Olivar said in a Facebook post.
Uson, heard laughing at Olivar off camera and commenting he looked like a monkey, shared her friend's video on her Facebook account, with a caption, "Sorry po."
Sen. Binay: Video disrespectful, discriminatory
Sen. Nancy Binay—author of a Senate bill to adopt Filipino Sign Language as an official language of instruction and communication—called the fake sign langage video "disrespectful to the sizeable deaf/mute community who already struggle in airing their concerns and aspirations."
READ: Why imitating sign language as a joke is wrong and unfunny
"Such discriminatory actions set back our efforts to make our society more inclusive by providing a more conducive environment for deaf Filipinos to exercise their right to expression without prejudice," Binay also said, adding that Uson should remember that public officials should not mock the people they serve.
Republic Act 9442, which amends the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, prohibits prohibits ridicule, both verbal and non-verbal, of persons with disabilities, which can intimidate them or make them lose their self-esteem.
Section 39 of the said law defines public ridicule as “making fun or contemptuous imitating or making mockery of persons with disability whether in writing, or in words, or in action” because of their impairment.
"We believe that even those working for the government and the few under the protection of officials must answer to the law," advocacy group PWD Philippines said in Filipino in reaction to the video.
'Pepe-dede' video
Uson and her friend have been criticized before for a video for a game show recorded in Malacañang during office hours. In the video, Olivar gestures to his crotch and chest, and shouts "I-pepe, i-dede, ipederalismo," a chant containing Filipino slang for the vagina and breasts.
The video was met with criticism from even the administration's allies. "Theatrical techniques will not work to explain a very serious and [highfalutin] issue such as federalism," Senate President Vicente Sotto III said.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, former Senate president and the president of the ruling PDP-Laban party, suggested that Uson go on leave.
"I never thought that they would insult the cause of federalism," Pimentel, who along with party founder and former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has been campaigning for a shift to a federal government, said.
RELATED: Robredo's lawyers mulling cases vs 'pepederalismo' blogger
In reponse to the furor over the video, the Presidential Communications Operations Office issued a memorandum addressed to all PCOO officials and staff to "be mindful of the content you post or share on your personal social media accounts, as well as other publications and press releases your office may publish."
President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged that Uson may have "gone overboard" but otherwise defended her.
"[J]ust the same, as a president who is sworn to protect the constitution and enforce it, it is covered with the privilege—freedom of expression. Whatever they want to say, whether she is an employee of my office or outside as a private citizen, that is not really my concern. As long as it is covered sa provision ng Constitution—freedom of expression," the president said earlier this month.