The word war between Vice President Leni Robredo and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy administrator Mocha Uson has escalated over the donations of Angat Buhay partners for the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.
Robredo, who called Uson a “purveyor of fake news,” said the OWWA official should verify herself the relief goods she had distributed on Tuesday in some evacuation centers in Batangas.
“Madali lang naman malaman. Pumunta siya doon sa mga pinuntahan namin; tanungin niya iyong mga binigyan,” Robredo said.
The Vice President dared Uson after the latter insisted that her donations only consisted of bread and water and her relief work was just for media publicity.
Robredo criticized the controversial pro-Duterte blogger and OWWA official for continuously spreading misleading information even if she was already caught lying.
“At pinaliwanag na sa kanya, marami nang na-interview doon, talagang ini-insist niya pa rin iyong kasinungalingan para lang maipakita niya na siya iyong tama,” she said.
“Ang kasinungalingan kahit bali-baliktarin mo, kasinungalingan pa rin iyon,” Robredo pointed out.
The heated exchange between the two lady officials erupted after Uson shared an online post claiming the food packs from Robredo’s office and its private partners contained bread and water.
Robredo questioned why a government official like Uson is being paid by taxpayers’ money to propagate fake news.
“It would be too petty that we would fight over the content. But my main point is: why allow a fake news peddler to receive salary from the government,” she said in Filipino.
After her stinging rebuke, the Vice President poked fun at Uson when she helped in the repacking of relief goods from Angat Buhay partners at the Quezon City Reception House.
“We are here repacking goods. These goods that you see around were all donated by private citizens,” she said in a live video posted on her social media accounts.
Among these donations were blankets, mattresses, bottled of water, face masks, toiletries, cookies, and other food items.
While repacking, she held up a pandesal, with a backdrop of boxes of “Mocha” flavor biscuits. (Raymund F. Antonio)
