Paula Defensor-Knack Disagrees With Mocha Uson’s Appointment As PCOO Assistant Secretary
Paula Defensor-Knack, Miriam Santiago’s sister disagrees with Mocha Uson’s appointment as the Assistant Secretary of PCOO.
Previously, Mocha Uson has been appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new Presidential Communications and Operations Officer Assistant Secretary, which is a ministerial position.
Paula Defensor-Knack expressed her dismay with the appointment of Mocha Uson for the position. She said that the position required a highly educated, intelligent, and experienced people to be qualified as PCOO Assistant Secretary.
Knack also said that she was a former DENR Assistant Secretary, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Senate, and headed the Legal Department of 13 companies based in the United States and the Philippines.
“I am NOT in favor of Mocha Uson being given a position as high as Assistant Secretary. There are other jobs she can fill in government,” wrote by Knack on her Facebook post last Wednesday (May 10, 2017).
Santiago’s sisters also stressed out that PCOO Assistant Secretary is obliged to defend the president, which is a very serious matter, especially in foreign relations. She explained that the appointments to a high position should not be taken lightly.
She said that the country might also have to defend Uson’s statements, videos, and past experiences before foreign diplomats. She also said that it could be prevented if the position was given to a person who has better credentials.
Here’s the full Facebook post of Knack:
“POINT OF ORDER ! LETS BE SERIOUS WITH GOVT. APPOINTMENTS. My sister Sen. Miriam would be furious with Mocha Uson being given a ministerial position as Asst. Secretary.
I was Assistant Secretary of the DENR before and served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Senate before that. Prior to becoming Asst. Sec. of the DENR, I also headed the Legal Department of 13 companies based in the PH and US. All of us Asecs were highly educated, intelligent, and had long years of experience. We took our positions very seriously.
I am NOT in favor of Mocha Uson being given a position as high as Assistant Secretary. There are other jobs she can fill in government.
The Assistant Secretary is considered a ministerial position in high-level meetings, including UN summits. WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND POSSESS STATURE. There are protocols for ministerial positions during international events. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Defending the President is not a joke, it is not comedy, it is a very serious affair especially in foreign relations. It is NOT an easy task for us to defend the government back home, when appointments to high positions are taken lightly.So now we have to defend Mocha Uson’s statements, videos, and past experience before foreign diplomats ? GET A BRAIN ! Everything is being scrutinized right now.
I do not personally know her, but it should be given to more qualified people with far better credentials because the times and the issues call for people with stature who can speak for the President and gain respect in international fora and media. The Office of the President is not a student council. That was the criticism of yellows and now it is being filled by anyone close to the President. That is not proper.
People associated with the President should command the highest respect. We do not want a circus around the President. DO NOT COPY THE STUDENT COUNCIL OF YELLOWS.
This makes the Office of the President a joke. This is not easy to defend abroad.”
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