MANILA- Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson has been issued a memorandum for her controversial video featuring the jingle “pepedederalismo,” a play on the term federalism.

This was revealed by Communications Asec. Ana Marie Banaag during budget deliberations for the Presidential Communications Operations Office before the House Committee on Appropriations Thursday.

The memorandum, according to Banaag, was issued by Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy to remind Uson of the conduct and ethical standards of public officials.

"Nag-issue ng memorandum kay Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson to remind her doon sa lahat ng pino-post niya and to remind her po sa provision ng RA 6713 on the conduct of public officials and employees especially on professionalism," Banaag said.

(A memorandum was issued to Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson to remind her on her posts as well as the provision of RA 6713 on the conduct of public officials and employees especially on professionalism).

Uson came under fire after she posted a video which shows blogger Drew Olivar cheering "Ipepe, ipepe. Idede, idede. Ipede, pede, pede, pederalismo!"

• 'Pepedederalismo, pambababoy': Mocha pinagli-leave

The sexy star-turned-government official had clarified that the video was just part of an online game show and was not part of the government-funded information drive on federalism.

Olivar meanwhile slammed those who criticized the video, saying it was them who were putting malice in his cheer and dance.

Banaag said PCOO recognizes that Uson had become "controversial" on some issues.

“We understand there are things naging controversial si Asec. Mocha especially sa federalism issue," she said.

Following the controversy over Uson's video, Banaag revealed the PCOO's plan to launch a gender equality guidebook for its personnel on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

"It is an awareness campaign on how to project equality for men and women and these are things we will be doing for next year in our gender and equality programs," she said.

"Very crucial issue is portrayal of women since our mandate is to create awareness on how to better portray women," she added.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged that “some things went overboard," involving Uson, but he said the public must respect the lady official's freedom of expression.

“Si Mocha maraming kalaban...there are things na tingin ko medyo nasobrahan. But just the same, as a president who is sworn to take the constitution and enforce it, it is covered by freedom of expression,” Duterte said in a speech before the Filipino community in Jerusalem, Israel on Sunday evening (Israel time).

(Mocha has many enemies...There are things that I think she went too far.)

“Kung ano ang gusto n'yang sabihin, ke empleyado siya ng opisina ko o sa labas as a private citizen, that is not really my concern as long as it is covered sa provision ng constitution: freedom of expression,” he added.

(Whatever she wants to say as a public official or as a private citizen, that is really not my concern as long as it is covered by the provision of the Constitution: freedom of expression.)

• Duterte on Mocha: Some things went overboard

-report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News