Groups oppose Uson’s OWWA appointment


BY GLEE JALEA
OCTOBER 05, 2019
Various groups, based locally and abroad, have denounced the appointment of Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson as deputy executive director of the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson
In a statement on Friday, United Filipinos in Hong Kong Chairman Dolores Pelaez decried Uson’s appointment.
“We denounce the appointment of Mocha Uson as OWWA deputy executive director. This is unacceptable to overseas Filipino workers, whose mandatory contributions require provision of welfare protection,” said Pelaez, adding that Uson is unqualified for the role.
Meanwhile, Gabriela party-list raised concerns over the “obvious use of executive powers to grant political favors to individuals obviously rejected by the electorate,” noting that Uson failed in securing a seat at the House of Representatives through the AA Kasosyo party-list. She was AA Kasosyo’s first nominee.
Uson, 37, was appointed in January 2017 as member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, only to resign in October of the following year. Her appointment to the government post was deemed in return for her support to the 2016 presidential campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“This is obviously imprudent and utterly lacking in delicadeza,” Gabriela party-list said.
“The party-list system has become so bastardized that it has become a very convenient shortcut not just for members of political dynasties, but for favored individuals known to kowtow to every whim of the executive,” Gabriela added
Just a days after taking office, Uson had already joined Duterte’s visit to Russia.
Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite previously said that Uson’s appointment was “illegal and should not be enforced.”

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