Mocha Uson returns award to UST alumni association

January 24, 2018

Presidential Communications Operations Assistant Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson returned an award for government service from the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association Inc (USTAAI) Wednesday afternoon following online criticisms by some fellow Thomasians.

In an interview Wednesday before joining the presidential delegation to India , Uson said she returned the award so that "bullying" against Henry Tenedero, head of USTAAI, would stop.

Tenedero resigned as president Tuesday evening after the UST alumni group held an emergency meeting after a furor even by university groups against Uson's appointment on social media, the official student newspaper The Varsitarian reported. The award was given on Sunday.

"Stop bullying him. He's (Tenedero) already old," Uson said.

To her fellow Thomasians who have been criticizing her award, Uson said, "Do they embody the Thomasian core values with their insult to a person like me?"

Several UST organizations disliked the decision of the USTAAI to give Uson award because she allegedly peddled fake news through her blog.

Uson is a strong supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Uson said those who were espousing freedom of expression were actually curtailing the freedom of expression of the association to choose its awardees.

Uson, along with Senator Joel Villanueva, was among those given the award for government service.

Villanueva expressed dismay that the award was given based on flimsy merit.

Uson hit Villanueva, telling him  he was not a clean person as the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal due to graft and corruption case. Uson graduated with a degree in medical technology. Celerina Monte/DMS