Palace: Mocha Uson to boost morale of OFWs as part of Duterte delegation to Middle East

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — Controversial blogger and presidential appointee Mocha Uson is part of President Rodrigo Duterte's official delegation during his state visits to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar this Holy Week.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Uson will boost morale among Filipinos working and residing in these countries.

"She has a large following among the overseas Filipino communities, especially in the Middle East, and it is in their interest that she has come to help boost morale and well-being," Abella said.

A known online Duterte defender, Uson has almost 5 million page likes in her official Facebook page, Mocha Uson Blog.

Uson has posted photos and videos of her with Duterte and other members of the official delegation. She said she is excited to meet with the Filipino communities in the Middle East.

Duterte and his delegation arrived in Riyadh Monday evening for a state visit from April 10-12.

They will proceed to Bahrain on April 12, to Qatar on April 14, before returning to the Philippines on April 16.

In his pre-departure speech on Monday, Duterte said he wants to bring home with him OFWs who have been granted clemency from these countries, which enforce death penalty laws.

Early this year, Duterte appointed Uson as board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), a body mandated to regulate and classify movies, television programs, and publicity materials.