MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Contrary to what presidential aide Bong Go told media on Wednesday, June 6, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson did not apologize to celebrity Kris Aquino about the official’s post about her father, the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. 

“Ito po ang aking response sa live video ni Ms Kris Aquino (This is my response to the live video of Ms Kris Aquino). This is not about Kris Aquino,” Uson said in a video posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon.

There was no hint of an apology from Uson in her 21-second video. Moments after, she even posted a status message that reads: “With all due respect to everyone involved, I decline to apologize for the truth.”

In her video, she said that she posted a photo of the late senator and opposition icon being kissed by two women in response to outrage over President Rodrigo Duterte’s kiss with a married Filipina in South Korea.

“Tungkol ito sa paglagay ng malisya sa isang halik. Itinumbas lang sa gawain ng ibang lider tulad ng tatay niya. (This is about putting malice in a kiss. I just compared the actions of other leaders like her father). Ms Aquino, this is not about you,” said Uson.

Aquino took exception to Uson’s post as she said it spurned the memory of her father and mother, former president Corazon Aquino, who could not defend themselves as they had passed away.

The old footage showed the late senator being kissed by two women before he disembarked from his plane at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. He was assasinated moments after.

The influential media personality challenged Uson to confront her face to face and to stop using the memory of her parents for government propraganda.

Duterte himself sought to appease Aquino by conveying his apologies over the incident with Uson through Go.

Hours before Uson released her video, Go held a news briefing to announce that the President expected Uson to apologize to Aquino. – Rappler.com