MANILA — After sharing a video on social media which host-actress Kris Aquino took insult to, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson is now willing to apologize to the former Presidential sister for unintentionally hurting her feelings.
President Rodrigo R. Dutete’s top aide, Christopher “Bong” Go disclosed this Wednesday, noting that Uson herself said that she agreed with him and the Chief Executive that there was a need to say sorry.
“Mag so-sorry naman po siya (She will apologize),” Go said in a press briefing in Malacañang, also urging reporters to interview Uson themselves.
“Nag-agree naman po si Asec. Mocha sa amin. Sa tingin ko mag so-sorry din siya kung may mediang makapag-interview sa kanya (Asec. Mocha agreed that there was a need to apologize. I think she will say sorry when members of the media get a chance to interview her),” he added.
Uson has yet to arrive in the Philippines from her trip to South Korea where she joined Duterte in his three-day official visit to Seoul.
On June 4, Uson posted on her Facebook page a video showing the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. being kissed by two women inside an airplane just moments before he was assassinated at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983.
Uson shared this footage which was placed side by side with the footage of Duterte kissing a married Filipina worker in Korea during a meeting with Filipino community on June 3. The Filipina was identified as Bea Kim in an exclusive interview by the Radio Television Malacanang.
Kim earlier said she found no malice in the kiss, and that the President’s “kilig” gesture was just a twist to make the audience happy.
Ms. Aquino, the youngest daughter of the late senator, did not take Uson’s video lightly saying that it opened wounds of her 12-year-old self when her father was killed.
‘Well-loved’
Go refused to comment after being asked by a reporter if he thought Uson’s sharing of the video was right or wrong and instead tried to explain why she posted the video in the first place.
“Ang pinapakita niya (What she was trying to show is that), both leaders are well-loved,” Go said, stressing that Uson’s action was unintentional and that she was merely defending Duterte.
“Wala namang intensiyon si Asec. Mocha makasakit ng damdamin kaya kami nalang muna ang naunang mag-sorry (Asec. Mocha had no intentions of hurting anyone’s feelings that’s why we’re the ones apologizing on her behalf),” he added.
Asked if he thought Uson should step down amid repeated criticism for the way she does her job, Go refused to comment, noting that he was not an appointing authority.
“Kakausapin ko po si Pangulong Duterte ukol dito (I will speak to President Duterte about this) since he is the appointing authority,” Go said.
Go said he never advised Uson on what or what not to post on social media, stressing that the she was old enough to make decisions for herself.
“Si Asec. Mocha ay matanda na at meron na po siyang sariling pag-iisip at alam niya ang tama at mali (Asec. Mocha is old enough and has her own mind and she knows the difference between right and wrong),” Go said.
Duterte also sorry
Aside from apologizing on behalf of Uson, Go also apologized on behalf of the President himself after he was told about the issue.
Go said he told Duterte about Ms. Aquino personally texting him and telling him that she was hurt by how Uson’s actions showed disrespect for her father.
The President’s top aide said that his boss said: “Sabihin mo na (Tell her) we are sorry for the incident.” (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
