The ‘game show’ video on federalism by Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar continues to draw negative reactions, notably from Vice President Leni Robredo and even from Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
In an interview in Naga City, Robredo said the video gave a bad impression not only of President Rodrigo Duterte, but of all Filipinos.
“Pero ako kasi, ’yung mga taong ganito ano eh, hindi sila nakakatulong kay Pangulong Duterte. Kung yung sadya nila makatulong, lalong di sila nakakatulong,” she said.
“Binibigyan nila ng masamang impression ’yung Pangulo, kasi sila ‘yung mga supporters. Dapat sana sila yung nagdadala ng kagandahang loob. Pag ganito yung ginagamit na paraan, hindi lang si Pangulo yung nababastos pero lahat na ng Pilipino.”
Robredo expressed dismay that the video was taken inside a government office and was even supervised by a government official.
“’Yung sweldo galing sa taong bayan. So ’yung tanong, yung ganito bang kabastusan ang pino-promote natin bilang mga Pilipino. Kung kinakailangan na mag-intervene tayo para pahintuin yung mga ganito, gagawin natin,” she said.
Uson’s video showed Olivar cheering for federalism using references to female body parts while doing a lewd dance.
The video immediately drew flak from several lawmakers, members of the consultative committee that drafted the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution, and netizens.
Robredo, who is mulling to file charges against Olivar, also called for decency in all public discourse.
Robredo said she might just file a case against Olivar, who last year made sexual allegations against the Vice President in his blog.
“Marami lang iyong mga naghihikayat sa atin na mag-file ng legal action,” she said. “[N]angako tayo na papag-aralan natin sa mga abogado kasi apektado hindi lang ako, pero apektado iyong maraming Pilipino na nalalaswaan sa ginagawa.”
Robredo reiterated that there should be no room for lewd pronouncements, especially in discussing policies of the government.
Mayor Duterte Carpio, meanwhile, advised Uson to be “more circumspect,” in her actions, as she weighed in on Uson and Olivar’s controversial pepedederalismo” video.
“I think our secretary should be more circumspect siguro with her actions because she already is a government official,” the presidential daughter said.
While acknowledging Uson’s intention of raising awareness for federalism, Duterte-Carpio said that the messaging that Uson chose needs fixing.
“But tama naman ’yung gusto nila na mapalaki ’yung campaign ng federalism. Siguro ’yung messaging lang ayusin,” she added.
The Davao City mayor attended an oath-taking ceremony in Camarines Sur Thursday for youth environmental organization El Verde Youth for Climate Action.
Duterte-Carpio was invited by Camarines Sur Governor Migz Villafuerte as guest of honor of the ceremony ale,fter the local government of Davao City helped the province when it was struck by typhoon Nina in 2016.
Meanwhilke, the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), a 35-year research and training organization for women, said they were not surprised that Uson came out with the with the viral dance video.
“While the supposedly infovideo on federalism is appalling to watch, it wasn’t much of a surprise to come from a government that has clearly no sense of respect for women and human rights,” CWR executive director Jojo Guan said.
“If the video intends to popularize the discussion on federalism, Ms. Uson should realize that her method is based on crass stereotypes. It has trivialized and objectifed women’s bodies,” Guan added.
She also noted that the posting of the video clearly violated the Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW). The Section 5 of the law stated that the State, as the primary duty-bearer, shall “(1) refrain from discriminating against women and violating their rights; (2) protect women against discrimination and from violation of their rights by private corporations, entities, and individuals; and (3) promote and fulfill the rights of women in all spheres, including their rights to substantive equality and non-discrimination.”
In addition, according to Guan, Uson had also violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, which mandates “all public officials in the government, elective and appointive, permanent or temporary whether in the career or non-career service, including military and police personnel, whether or not they receive compensation, regardless of amount.”
“While Ms. Uson claimed that the video was only posted on her personal blog, the fact remains that she is a public official who represents the government. Disturbingly, Ms. Uson’s bearing just reflects the views of other public officials of the present administration.
President Duterte’s remarks and gestures have always been sexist and misogynist. Senate President Tito Sotto’s comment on groping-women-as-joke-not-sexual-harassment has trivialized sexual abuses against women,” Guan added.
Meanwhile, Guan reminded the public to be wary of the Duterte administration’s antics to divert attention from the real issue.
“The real issue here is that the government pushes for federalism without acknowledging and addressing the pressing issues like worsening poverty and human rights situation, inefficient and unavailable basic social services, among others,” she said.
Based on the results of the Pulse Asia Survey last July, majority of Filipinos reject the shift to a federal system of government. In fact, only two out of 10 Filipinos agree to revise the Constitution. Despite this low approval of public, the Duterte administration allotted Php 90 million budget for information dissemination of federalism.
“Prioritizing a million budget for federalism amid the worsening impoverishment of the people shows a clear disregard of the Duterte government for the people’s basic social needs such as free quality health services and affordable housing projects,” Guan said. With PNA