“The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity,” says British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
It seems college student Rocky Nicor is bound for posterity here in Negros Occidental.
During a forum held at Vianney Hall in San Sebastian Cathedral last week with Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Nicor queried what the youth can do against Esther Margaux Justiniano “Mocha” Uson, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
“As a student, I find it insulting to the Filipinos what Assistant Secretary Uson did. Uson, as a public official, whom people looked up to... What she did on the ‘Pepe-dederalismo’ video has sent a wrong signal to the Filipinos. Uson does not deserve to work in the government because she always violates the Code of Ethics of a public official,” Nicor said.
Nicor echoed my sentiments. “The Train Law which was passed that will supposedly serve for the betterment of the Philippines, the bigger pie of the budget amounting to P90 million just went to Uson, despite the indecency that only degrades the image of the country.”
I can understand his sentiments. As the Assistant Secretary for Social Media under the PCOO, Miss Uson gets a monthly gross salary of at least P128,467 on top of her allowance and bonuses broken down as:
• A monthly Rata (Representation and Transportation Allowances) amounting to P20,000 (P10,000 for representation and another P10,000 for transportation)
• P5,000 monthly extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses
• P2,000 monthly Pera (Personal Economic Relief Allowance)
• Mid-year and year-end bonus
Are Filipino taxpayers paying part of their hard-earned income so they can hear Uson’s personal opinions? How are citizens being enlightened? How can students of Hekasi (Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika) absorb knowledge when she quipped that Mayon Volcano is located in Naga and not Albay?
As fast foods ads would say, Filipino taxpayers are not getting value for their money. Uson has quite a record of fake news and misinformation, and Wikipedia seems to be keeping a list.
Student Nicor has echoed Senator Grace Poe who suggested that Uson’s position as a Presidential Communications secretary and as a blogger might be overlapping with the law.
During a Senate hearing on the proliferation of fake news in January, Poe cited Section 4(b) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which states that public officials and employees during incumbency shall not “engage in the private practice of their unless authorized by the Constitution or law, provided, that such practice will not conflict or tend to conflict with their legal functions.”
Do the right thing, Lad Nicor. As Mark Twain said, “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” (bqsanc@yahoo.com)