PDP-Laban tries to find common ground between factions

The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is working to keep its members in the House of Representatives united after the leadership row that saw the party’s Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez replaced by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker.

Several PDP-Laban members remained loyal to Alvarez during the power struggle, but the bulk of the members voted for Arroyo.

“The first order of business is to unite both factions,” Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo said at a press briefing on Monday.

“Within Congress, we try to maintain civility and harmonious relations. We hope we will find a common ground and acceptance. We’re avoiding [a situation] where one faction will be ousted,” Castelo added.

Unifier assigned

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez has been assigned to unify the two groups, he said. Benitez heads the Visayas bloc in the House that backed Arroyo for the speakership.

Alvarez earlier said he and his allies intended to become the minority bloc.

Among his loyal allies are former Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who chairs the justice committee.

Those who have signified their intent to join the minority are bound to lose their committee chairmanships, according to Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

Unauthorized assembly

The split in the PDP-Laban in the House came as another faction emerged last week claiming to be the genuine representatives of the party.

The faction held an assembly in Quezon City on Friday and elected new leaders that it said would replace Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Alvarez as party president and secretary general.

The PDP-Laban officers led by Pimentel shrugged off the actions of the group, saying the assembly was not authorized by the party.

President Duterte is reportedly planning to call a caucus to resolve the rivalries among his allies.