Palace: Duterte 'cool' about Mocha's controversial federalism video

President Rodrigo Duterte was "cool" about the video that featured a questionable dance to promote federalism, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Duterte’s spokesperson, Harry Roque, said Duterte acknowledged during a conversation with some Cabinet members on Monday that the video — part of Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson's online game show — was part of freedom of expression.

"He wasn't laughing. He was cool. It's freedom of expression. He’s a staunch advocate of freedom of expression kaya nga mahilig magmura," Roque said at a news conference.

Roque said Duterte was shown the video, adding the controversy calls for turning the debate on federalism into "something substantive."

"One thing is sure bagamat hindi kami sang-ayon sa pamamaraan eh talagang naging kontrobersyal ngayon ang pederalismo. So ang hamon ngayon is how do you translate this controversy into something positive for federalism. There's always an opportunity in anything that happens," the Palace official said.

"That's the challenge now: how to transform this new interest on federalism spurned by this controversy in explaining why we want this change of the constitution towards federalism."

Senators and other sectors were collectively appalled by the video, in which blogger Drew Olivar performed a so-called federalism dance to Uson's delight.

Senator Francis Escudero called the video "downright vulgar" and had "no place in the public discourse."

Senator Joel Villanueva said the video was an insult to the intelligence of the public, and "not the kind of public information materials we expect from a government agency and a government official."

Senator JV Ejercito hoped that the incident would not happen again, while Senator Cynthia Villar called on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to improve its effort to promote federalism.

Netizens were infuriated at the video, prompting them to question Uson's ability to be an effective instrument in raising awareness about federalism. Some netizens also slammed Uson for supposedly being a waste of taxes as a public servant.

Both Uson and Olivar said no government money was spent on the video.  —KBK, GMA News