UST student council strongly denounces government award for Mocha Uson
The UST Central Student Council said Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson is undeserving of the recognition given to Uson by the alumni association during the Grand Alumni Homecoming. Senate PRIB/Joseph Vidal, File
MANILA, Philippines—The highest student government of the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday expressed strong opposition against the UST Alumni Association Inc.’s move to award Palace Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson an award for government service.
In a statement, the UST Central Student Council said Uson is undeserving of the recognition given to Uson by the alumni association during the Grand Alumni Homecoming.
UST-CSC's Official Statement on UST-AAI's decision to honor Mocha Uson with the Thomasian Award on Government Service
— UST CSC (@UST_CSC) January 21, 2018
Take a stand, Thomasians! Let us hear your thoughts through https://t.co/KvQ511aMPK#PulsoNgTomasino#OneCSC pic.twitter.com/kPczNF3lWR
The student council said it shares the same aspiration and beliefs as the university in respect to its high regard for truth as graced with charity. However, it said that in this case it “strongly denounces” the act of honoring Uson.
“We express dismay over this even as Mocha Uson does not, in any way, embody the ideals of a real Thomasian, and with all due respect, Ms. Esther Margaix “Mocha” Justiniano Uson does not deserve an award that was supposed to be meant solely for outstanding Thomasian alumni,” the student council said.
The UST CSC cited that Uson is “widely known as the main purveyor of poltiically-motivated propaganda against known members of the government's opposition, and “an avid spreader citer of fake news.”
“Uson is also known to utilize her following to initiate blatant personal attacks against her critics and the government: including students, members of the press, all under guise of fake nationalism and freedom of speech,” it said.
The student council released the statement after the UST Alumni Association granted Uson the Thomasian Award for Government Service. She was reportedly given the award "to serve as an inspiration to other government workers."
READ: UST gives award to Mocha Uson for gov’t service
Uson and other government officials who graduated in UST also received the same award. These officials include Sen. Joel Villanueva, Buhay party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin, Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, among others.
The PCOO official is a graduate of Medical Technology in 1998 at the UST. She also studied medicine in the same university but stopped to pursue her show business career.
Uson, who maintains a Facebook blog with millions of followers, previously received criticisms for her social media blunders. Some netizens already filed online petition to oust her.
READ: 'Fire Mocha' trends after PCOO asec's latest gaffe | Online petition urges Duterte, Andanar to fire Mocha
Meanwhile, the UST CSC urges the Thomasian community to join its fight against proliferation of false information and to be critical of every information they receive. It also expressed support to the press freedom.
“We are also insolidarity with all members of the media in the fight for our democratic to free press. We condemn all form of attacks done by the state, aimed towards silencing and censoring the media,” the student council said.
Last Friday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines spearheaded the “Black Friday Protests for Press Freedom” to denounce the latest attacks against press freedom. The NUJP cited that the threat to close online news website Rappler, proved that President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies “will stop at nothing to shut down critical voices.”
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