MORE SENATORS HIT CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO

MANILA - Federalism is not an amusement piece or a comedy material, Senator Nancy Binay said Monday as Communication Assistant Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson drew flak after her co-host in an online show danced lewdly to promote the form of government.

Uson on Thursday shared to her 5.6 million Facebook followers an episode of "Good News Game Show" that she hosts with social media personality Drew Olivar, who danced at the start of the video, cheering "Ipepe, ipepe. Idede, idede. Ipede, pede, pede, pederalismo!"

Binay said she was saddened that the seriousness of the topic was "downgraded to the lowest of forms."

"Dapat malinaw sa ating lahat na federalism is not an amusement piece, nor is it a comedy material. Sa totoo lang, even the most educated university professor finds federalism as a complicated subject," she said in a statement.

"I can’t emphasize enough how important the messenger relays the message. With what we all saw in the video, I think we can all agree that the message and the messenger matter," she added.

She urged Malacañang to instruct those who have no official business in speaking in behalf of the consultative committee on federalism to disengage from all activities relating to its information campaign.

SENATORS VOICE CRITICISM

Earlier Monday, Senator Koko Pimentel called on Uson to take a leave from work and study federalism.

"'Di ko lubos akalain na bababuyin pala nila ang kawsa ng Pederalismo. Ilayo na si Mocha sa Pederalismo. Mag-aral muna siya ng mabuti. Mag leave muna siya," he said in a statement.

(I did not anticipate that they will disrespect the cause of federalism. Mocha should be distanced from federalism. She should study first. She should take a leave of absence.)

• 'Mali ang substance': Pimentel hits Mocha Uson over federalism video

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said the video was an affront to women.

"Ano ang kinalaman ng maseselang bahagi ng katawan ng babae sa usapin ng pederalismo? Inatasan at hinigan ng tulong si Ms. Uson para ipaliwanag sa publiko ang issue ng pederalismo, hindi para bastusin ang mga kababaihan at i-sexualize ang aming mga katawan," she said.

Uson cemented the death of proposed changes to the charter to pave the way for federalism before the Senate, added Senator Panfilo Lacson.

"Without Mocha Uson, federalism is already dead and awaiting cremation at the Senate. With Mocha Uson, the ashes should be thrown far, far away from the Philippines’ 7,107 beautiful islands," he said.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan urged Uson's superior, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, to answer to the video, which he said was an "obscenity" and not a public service.

Senate President Tito Sotto, meanwhile, said theatrical techniques couldn't shed light on federalism, while Senator Chiz Escudero said the video is a "desperate attempt to attract attention by intentionally offending our sense of propriety."

Olivar, for his part, slammed critics for supposedly putting malice to the lyrics of the cheer. He also stressed that the video also tried to explain federalism through trivia in the course of the game show.

Uson, meanwhile, clarified in a video posted in her blog Sunday night that no public funds were used in the online game show.

The government official stressed that she is neither a spokesperson nor ambassador of federalism, as she was only one of the people tapped to help in the social media campaign on federalism.

"Wala pong inilabas na pera dito sa video na ito o sa game show na ito. Walang pera, walang budget, hindi po binayaran si Drew," she said.

"Hindi po ako ang spokesperson ng federalism, hindi po ako ang ambassadress ng federalism. Isa lang po ako sa mga tutulong para isulong ang kampanya ng federalism sa social media," she added.

• RELATED STORY: Palace: Federalism a serious issue