Claiming 'sacrifice,' Mocha quits post as PCOO Asec.

Controversial Assistant Communications Secretary Mocha Uson on Wednesday announced her resignation from her post as a "sacrifice" in hopes of a swift approval of the Presidential Communications Operations Office's (PCOO) budget.

Uson made the announcement during a budget hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee on PCOO's proposed budget for 2019.

Uson said that with her resignation, she is hoping PCOO's proposed P1-billion budget will be approved quickly by Congress, even as she blamed "leftist" lawmakers who have issues against her for the delay in the budget's approval.

"Tila mayroon pong mga kongresista na iniipit ang budget ng PCOO. Ito pong mga makakaliwang kongresista, galit na galit po sa akin," she told senators.

"Taun-taon na lang, sinasabihan ako ng 'Huwag punahin ang mga mambabatas para hindi maipit ang budget ng PCOO.' Kaya ako na lang po ang magsasakripisyo para maipasa ang budget ng PCOO. Nagdesisyon po ako na mag-resign na po," she added.

Uson was referring to the deferment of the PCOO's budget hearing in the House of Representatives twice due to her absence.

Uson, a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is PCOO's Assistant Secretary for Social Media. She just returned to the country after being part of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

'We wish her luck'

Interviewed after her announcement, Uson said she has already submitted her resignation letter to Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go. 

"We wish her luck," Go said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Go said the executive branch did not pressure Uson to vacate her post, but Duterte has already accepted her resignation.

In an interview on News to Go, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo described Uson as "a selfless public official" for resigning.

Uson's boss, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, said they are still waiting for Duterte's decision on her resignation.

"Ako naman ay hinihintay ko ang decision ni Presidente dahil siya ang appointing authority," he said. "Kung saan po masaya, si Mocha, we will continue to support her in her future endeavor."

Still combative

Despite her resignation, Uson remained combative, vowing to get back at her critics and possibly seeking an elective post.

"Para po sa mga bumabatikos sa akin, 'wag po kayong magkakamaling isipin na nagtagumpay kayo. Hindi ako nagbitiw sa posisyon dahil takot akong harapin kayo, gusto ko lang na pag nagharap tayo patas ang laban. Inaakusahan ako ng kung anu-anong kasalanan, hindi na kayo nahiya sa Pangulo na walang pagod na nagtatrabaho para iayos ang ating bayan,” Uson said.

"Samantalang kayong ilang mambabatas ay ginagamit ang posisyon upang takutin ang ahensya ng gobyerno na hindi sumasakay sa inyong pansariling agenda. Balang araw magkakaharap din po tayo ngunit di tulad ninyo na nagtatago sa inyong posisyon, handa akong lumaban bilang ordinaryong Pilipino kasama ng mga walang boses sa lipunan. Dadalhin ko ang laban sa Senado at sa Kongreso."

In closing, Uson thanked Duterte for giving her a chance to serve his administration.

"Muli, nagpapasalamat ako sa mga nagtitiwala sa akin, sa ating mahal na Pangulo sa pagkakataon na manilbihan sa bayan.Hindi ito katapusan ng laban, umpisa pa lamang po ito," she said.

Controversial official

Uson's stint in government service has been marred with several controversies, including her alleged propensity to spread "fake news" on her Facebook page.

Weeks before her resignation, Uson has drawn flak for a video post featuring her friend, vlogger Drew Olivar, who likened the administration's federalism campaign to women's breasts and vagina.

Subsequently, Uson and Olivar did another video where they mocked the sign language of the deaf.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director general Harold Clavite has called for Uson's resignation as a result of these incidents, saying Uson, a former entertainer, has committed far too many blunders.

In May 2017, Uson posted a photo of what she claimed were Filipino soldiers kneeling in prayer amid the then-ongoing Marawi siege.

Those in the photo, however, were soldiers from Honduras. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News