The President said Uson’s actions were within the ambit of the Constitution.
In a speech before the Filipino community in Israel, Duterte defended Uson almost a month after her video featuring a “pepedederalismo” jingle in a bid to promote and raise public awareness on the administration’s federalism drive.
“You know, it’s like this. There are things, which, I think, went overboard. But just the same as a President, who is sworn to protect the Constitution and enforce it, it is covered with their privilege—freedom of expression,” the President said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He added it is not really his concern whatever Uson say—both as an employee under his office or as private citizen—as long as it is covered by the provision in the Constitution on the freedom of expression.
Earlier, Malacañang said Duterte was “very cool” about the video, although he found it unconventional to get the people’s interest into federalism.
Last month the Presidential Communications Operations Office released a memorandum reminding its officials and employees, including Uson, that they should be “mindful of the content they post or share” on their social- media accounts, as well as other publications and news releases their office may publish.
For several times, Uson was bashed and called out for spreading “fake news” on social media.
In January Uson trended on social-media because she said that Mayon Volcano is in Naga City in Camarines Sur. Mayon Volcano is actually in Albay.
Constitutional Commission Spokesman Conrado I. Generoso earlier said that it would be a big help if Uson can promote federalism since she has many followers.
As of this writing time, the Mocha Uson Blog has 5.69 million followers on Facebook.
The President also defended his recent rape joke, invoking his own freedom of expression.
“They would say I am a misogynist. That is why when you say—there is a rising number of rape cases in Davao. I said, ‘maybe there are lots of beautiful women in Davao,’” he said. “I did not say that all of them were raped. But you are almost mesmerized or tempted. That’s how you control yourself. It is a democracy. Freedom of expression.”
Last Thursday the President said at a public event that “for as long as there are many beautiful women, there will be many rape cases, too.”
In a news statement, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo also came to the defense of the President, saying that the human-rights critics and the President’s detractors are “nitpicking” and “making a fuss” about the President’s statement.
“They always distort the intended meaning of the President’s comment. PRRD [President Duterte] was merely priding himself to the fact that Davao, from where he is from and mayor for 23 years abounds with beautiful women and, at the same time, advancing a theory that their being beautiful could be one motivating reason why the rapists sexually abuse them,” Panelo added.
He also noted that the President reveres his late mother and that the President has always protected women’s rights and recognized women by appointing them to his Cabinet and in other offices, such as the Supreme Court.