After House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s announcement of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)’s 2019 senatorial line-up, pro-Duterte blogger-turned-communications assistant secretary Margaux ‘Mocha’ Uson aired her side of the story.
According to Alvarez, the PDP-Laban senatorial line-up includes current Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, lawmakers Karlo Nograles, Geraldine Roman, and Albee Benitez, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino, and Uson.
However, on Friday night, Uson published an official statement on her Facebook page, which she referred to as “the real story” behind Alvarez’s announcement.
Uson clarified that she attended the oath taking of the new PDP-Laban members in Cebu City “upon the invitation of Presidential Assistant for Visayas, Michael Dino” and she has no other political intention for being at the event.
She said she was actually surprised by Alvarez’s announcement.
“Nagulat po ako ng sinasabi nila na inanunsyo raw po ni Speaker Alvarez na ako ay tatakbo bilang Senador, HINDI KO PO ITO ALAM AT HINDI NAMIN ITO PINAG USAPAN,” Uson wrote.
(I was surprised when they said that Speaker Alvarez announced that I was going to run for senator, I did not know this and we didn’t talk about this.)
According to Uson, she has been invited by Alvarez to run for Senate, but she declined because she said she’s not a politician.
“I am thankful and flattered for being considered as a possible candidate, pero sa ngayon ay wala pa akong (but as of now I do not have) plans on running,” Uson said.
However, Uson is not closing any doors on her future in politics. She says she will run if President Duterte tells her to do so.
She explains, “At kung tatakbo man po ako, eto po ay dahil si Pangulong Duterte na mismo ang nagpatakbo sa akin. Yan ay dahil sa ang akin lamang hangarin ay matulungan ang Duterte Administration na pagsilbihan ang bayan.”
(And if I am going to run, this is because President Duterte himself made me run. That is because my only aim is to help the Duterte Administration to serve the nation.)
With report from ABS-CBN News
