Much Ado About Uson

 

 

BLOGGER “MOCHA” Uson announced her resignation as assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on October 3 during the deliberations of the Senate finance subcommittee on the agency’s budget. The subcommittee had postponed the hearings twice, after she failed to attend scheduled sessions on September 25 and October 2. She was also absent during the finance committee deliberations at the House of Representatives on September 6.

Uson said she was resigning her post, describing her decision as a sacrifice on her part, asked to be excused and left the session. She was however willing to be interviewed by reporters, which television carried live.

Uson has been a most controversial figure even before her appointment as undersecretary in the PCOO in May 2017.  She blogged about sex before turning into a “social media influencer” for then candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign. Long associated with the spread of disinformation or “fake news,” as well as outrageous and offensive statements, she has attacked politicians and journalists critical of the president and his policies. She was both producer of and performer in a video that made fun of the deaf community and a raunchy dance routine to promote federalism.

Media made much of her resignation, as though she were a key government official. That kind of media attention helps sustain the perception by many that she is a significant political figure, keeping her in the public mind and enhancing her chances of being elected to whatever post she’s running for in 2019. The more media report, the stronger her name recall.

CMFR monitored reports from the three national newspapers Manila Bulletin, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Philippine Star; primetime newscasts 24 Oras (GMA-7), Aksyon (TV5), News Night (CNN Philippines) and TV Patrol (ABS-CBN 2); as well as selected news websites from October 3 to 5, 2018.

Attention Diverted

Uson’s resignation effectively sidelined the issue of the budget hearing as the media organizations monitored gave it greater prominence. The subject was television’s top story on October 3, also appearing on the front pages of the newspapers on October 4.

During the monitor period, reporters were following up on a number of issues and developments, among them President Duterte’s medical tests, the military’s red-tagging of some schools in Metro Manila, the transport sector’s proposed fare increase amid soaring fuel prices, the calamity in Indonesia and the gaffe with airport security of  Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III (ACTS-OFW party-list).

On October 3 and 4, television news made her a subject of 13 news accounts, for a total of approximately 31 minutes of airtime across the four newscasts. 24 Oras aired three reports for a total of 10:06 minutes; Aksyon gave it two reports with 5:07; News Night had five with 8:16; and TV Patrol three for 7:22.

24 Oras did a live interview with Uson, which lasted four minutes. But the exercise was just another opportunity for Uson to talk about herself, defend her actions and announce her intention to run for office, as news anchor Mel Tiangco merely asked for Uson’s reflections post-resignation.

Print provided a total of five reports.

News accounts recorded Uson’s statements and joined this with Malacañang’s expression of their thanks for her support for the Duterte administration. There were lawmakers who felt that her departure was “too little, too late.” Reports also included brief backgrounders on how she got into government and the controversies she generated.

Accountability Question Sidelined

Despite recalling the controversies involving Uson, the media only briefly mentioned the cases that have been filed against her, such as the Philippine Federation of the Deaf’s (PFD) complaint that she violated the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Television provided three updates on the Ombudsman’s investigation into these complaints – a measly one minute and thirty seconds (27 seconds in Aksyon, 31 seconds in TV Patrol and 32 seconds in News Night) out of the 31 minutes of total airtime devoted to her.

The Bulletin and Star had one report each, both noting that the case will proceed despite her resignation, and reporting that the Ombudsman has asked her to reply to the complaint within ten days.

Rappler briefly discussed the implications should the complaints against Uson prosper. In an October 4 report, Rappler recalled one other complaint filed in April 2018 before the Ombudsman by Akbayan Youth over Uson’s spreading “fake news.”

The offenses referred to by the last complaint were administrative in nature, Rappler said, but emphasized that while the penalty of either suspension or dismissal from office are now moot due to her resignation, a finding of guilt for such offenses also comes with accessory penalties, among them perpetual disqualification from public office. This could be used against Uson’s candidacy or reappointment, it said. But the report also cited election lawyers who said that this is a grey area as a dismissal “has to be final” before anyone can validly oppose someone’s candidacy.

In September 2017, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV also filed complaints against Uson before the Ombudsman. The senator accused her of falsification of public documents as well as of violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. But this was barely mentioned in the coverage; the reports chose to emphasize the PFD’s complaint instead.

The Uson case should remind media to be mindful of allotting too much attention to certain figures merely because they’re controversial, especially in the context of the coming 2019 midterm elections. Coverage of such figures should be based on public interest. Information about candidates should help citizens make up their minds about their qualification for public office.

Controversies can be manufactured just to gain media attention. Mindless coverage serves the candidate’s agenda, as every bit of space or airtime devoted to them helps keep their names in the public mind. Some media people argue that they have to report on people like Uson because they’re “news material.” The fact, however, is that by endowing them with status and legitimacy, the media can transform anyone and anything into news material.