Esther Margaux “Mocha” J. Uson announced on Wednesday that she will run for the 2019 midterm elections as an independent candidate.
The former communication assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) made the confirmation on the eve of the filing of Certificate of Candidacy on Wednesday.
Uson, however, disclosed she has yet to decide which position she will be running for in the May 2019 polls.
“I already told the President that I am going to run either for Congress or in the Senate. I am not sure yet,” Uson told reporters in a media forum.
Last week, Uson said she decided to resign from her post at the PCOO to spare the office from the alleged harassment from some lawmakers during its budget deliberations.
Uson said she already got the support of President Duterte, as well as Presidential daughter and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio when she told them about political plans.
If elected, Uson said she will push for the policies addressing the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The blogger and sexy dancer-turned- government official said OFWs are close to her heart, since she also worked as a entertainer abroad before.
“We have so many laws when it comes for migration policies…but when they [OFWs] return, we have no law protecting their welfare,” Uson said.
“This will be my focus to fast-track the process for OFWs to…start…their [own] business,” she added.
Uson, however, denied she will replace Aniceto D. Bertiz III as representative of ACT-OFWs party-list.
Bertiz is currently facing an ethics complaint due several controversies, including violating airport security and mistreatment of OFWs. Uson said she plans to win an electoral seat without spending a single peso by just tapping the 5.7 million followers on her social media.
She said most of her followers are OFWs and supporters of the President.
“This will prove my followers are not trolls,” Uson said.