Trillanes grills Mocha on blog posts: Ayaw natin yung walang liability

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday questioned Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson as regards controversial and erroneous blog posts during a Senate committee hearing on fake news.

They met two weeks after Trillanes sued Uson for libel and graft for allegedly spreading fake news over his supposed offshore bank accounts.

Trillanes said that as part of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Uson was no longer entitled to have a “separate opinion" on her blog.

“You have to decide kung gagamitin mo ang blog mo to defend, to promote Duterte and to explain his policies. By all means, gawin mo. Pero ang ayaw natin dito, gagamitin mo yang medium na yan tapos walang liability,” Trillanes said.

Uson repeatedly said during the hearing that she was not a journalist, and that her posts were based on her personal opinions.

“Pag Mocha Uson Blog ang nagsasalita, since part siya ng PCOO, as a senior official, then it is part of the apparatus of dissemination of the PCOO,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes cited one of Uson’s Facebook posts in August, wherein the assistant secretary posted a photo daring several politicians to visit the wake of a police officer the way they visited 17-year-old Kian delos Santos.

Netizens quickly said that the photo of the wake of police officer was a year old.

“Nakalagay kasi ‘Kelan ninyo dadalawin?’ Meaning, pwede pa puntahan,” Trillanes said.

Uson then argued: “Alam ko naman na nangyari yan years ago. Pino-point ko lang kung kelan bibisita yung mga ganitong namamatay na kapulisan.”

Uson said she solely maintains her Facebook account. “Ako lang po, sir. Walang nagre-review. Ano lang po yan, personal opinion ko lang po yan, sir.”

Trillanes told Uson to use her social media accounts in a “positive way.”

“You have a strong influence sa public, gamitin mo yan in a positive way. Be a good influence to those who are following you,” Trillanes said.

Uson said she would consider Trillanes’ suggestions. —NB/RSJ, GMA News