Mocha Uson named among projected PDP-Laban 2019 senatorial bets

(Photo courtesy: The Philippine Star)

Margaux “Mocha” Uson, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), was named by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as a “partial” candidate in the 2019 senatorial mid-term elections under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).

Alvarez, secretary-general of PDP-Laban, announced the party's possible lineup for the upcoming elections in 2019 in a mass oath-taking for new members in Cebu on Friday.

The lineup also includes Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino and Representatives Karlo Nograles, Geraldine Roman and Albee Benitez.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III however, clarified on the same day that there was still no official party agreement in the senatorial lineup of PDP-Laban after Alvarez revealed several names as senatorial bets of the party.

“You can consider them as [the] Speaker’s nominees. [The] party will decide in due time,” said Pimentel.

Uson, a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said she is grateful for being considered as a possible candidate but has no intention to file for candidacy as of the moment.

“Kung tatakbo man po ako, [ito] po ay dahil si Pangulong Duterte na mismo ang nagpatakbo sa akin,” Uson said in a statement posted on her official Twitter account.

Upon the invitation of Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Dino, she attended the oath-taking of new PDP-Laban members in Cebu with no political agenda, she added.

She also admitted Alvarez insisted her a few times to run for Senate but she refused because she does not see herself as a politician.

“Kaya nagulat ako [nang] sinasabi nila na inanunsiyo raw po ni Speaker Alvarez na ako ay tatakbo bilang senador,” said Uson. “Hindi ko po ito alam at hindi namin ito pinagusapan.”

Uson, an entertainer and blogger, started making rounds in the political scene during the presidential campaign for the 2016 elections due to her influential Mocha Uson Blog, which has reached a following of more than five million. She was promoted as a Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) board member in January before assuming post as the PCOO assistant secretary in May. D. SANCHEZ