Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros scored OWWA Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson over a social media post linking her to the Philhealth corruption issues.
In a Facebook post, one of Uson’s social media admins “admin ain” shared a netizen’s post asking Senator Hontiveros to explain the corruption scandal in Philhealth which was recently revealed in a Senate hearing.
“Ano po masasabi niyo sa post ni Sir Ermin Garcia Jr. na dapat mag-explain si Senator Risa Hontiveros,” said on the post.
Hontiveros served as Philhealth director and board member from November 2014 to October 2015.
Mag-focus ka sa trabaho mo sa OWWA imbes na magpakalat ng #FakeNews.
Kailangan ng tulong ng OFWs pero nagawa mo pang magkalat ng chismis sa isyu na pinabulaanan na ng COA at PhilHealth mismo.
Nakalimutan mong 4 years na kayong nakaupo? Si gitna ng pandemya chismis pa ang inuna. pic.twitter.com/TH5r8tUm8y
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) August 4, 2020
Hontiveros meanwhile blasted Uson for sharing fake news about her.
In a tweet, the senator posted a side by side picture of Mocha Uson Blog’s posts together with a Vera files article stating that Hontiveros was not included in the disallowance notice by COA to Philhealth.
She also scored Mocha for spreading fake news instead of concentrating on her job at OWWA which needs her attention especially in this time of the pandemic.
“Mag-focus ka sa trabaho mo sa OWWA imbes na magpakalat ng #FakeNews. Kailangan ng tulong ng OFWs pero nagawa mo pang magkalat ng chismis sa isyu na pinabulaanan na ng COA at PhilHealth mismo. Nakalimutan mong 4 years na kayong nakaupo? Si gitna ng pandemya chismis pa ang inuna.”
Mag-focus ka sa trabaho mo sa OWWA imbes na magpakalat ng #FakeNews.
Kailangan ng tulong ng OFWs pero nagawa mo pang magkalat ng chismis sa isyu na pinabulaanan na ng COA at PhilHealth mismo.
Nakalimutan mong 4 years na kayong nakaupo? Si gitna ng pandemya chismis pa ang inuna. pic.twitter.com/TH5r8tUm8y
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) August 4, 2020
Hontiveros has been a constant target of Duterte supporters with regards to Philhealth issues. Prior to her senatorial bid in 2016, she was already tagged in the disallowance notice by COA to the Philhealth.
However, according to a Vera Files article, former Philhealth corporate communications manager Rey Baleña clarified that Senator Hontiveros was not included in the notice of disallowance.
“Former Board Member and now Senator Risa Hontiveros is not included in the subject Notice of Disallowance,” said Baleña in an e-mail to VERA Files.
The office of Sen. Hontiveros also denied the allegation saying the issue was already approved prior to Hontiveros’ appointment to Philhealth.
“Senator Risa Hontiveros is not party to the case wherein the COA has ordered the officials of PhilHealth to return P163.85 million in alleged unauthorized bonuses and allowances. The said bonuses were approved before Sen. Hontiveros’ term as member of PhilHealth’s board.”
Mocha has always been known for spreading fake news. Prior to this one, Uson has been tagged to numerous fake news articles that emanated from her Facebook page.
Just recently, she was subjected to an NBI investigation regarding her fake news post on DOH’s PPE Donations which came out to be donated by the SM Foundation.
“Yes, she is being investigated by our Cybercrime Division (CCD) for fake news,” said NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin
The investigation is said to have been concluded but NBI hasn’t released the results yet.