President Rodrigo revealed it was him who insisted on giving Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson her post as payback for her support in the 2016 elections.
In a press conference after his two-hour long State of the Nation Address Monday (July 24), Duterte said Uson campaigned for him for free.
“Ngayon, nung nanalo ako, out of gratitude. Hindi naman ako dadating ng Malacañan… Gi-appoint ko siya. Social Media Secretary. Now, she received a lot of flak [and me?] Kasi daw dancer, kasi ganon-ganon. And so what?” he asked.
Duterte said that while there are people who are approaching him now asking for a job, Uson never asked anything in return for her support so he took matters into his own hands.
“Sabi ko, ‘Bong, hanapin mo ‘yan si Mocha. Sabihin mo kung paano ako makatulong sa kanya.’ Sabi nila, ‘May position diyan for media.’ Sabi ko, ‘Ilagay mo,'” he said.
Duterte said Uson’s past as a sexy performer isn’t a hindrance for her to get a government job.
He, however, admitted to appointing several people in government to pay back a debt of gratitude.
“Maraming nandiyan because utang na loob ko. Binabayaran ko pero sa mga tamang tao,” he said.