President Rodrigo Duterte meets PDP-Laban partymates on August 9, 2018 amid reports of infighting among officials of the ruling party. Malacañang Photo
Amid the reported rift between its rival factions, President Duterte wants to unify the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
The President was scheduled to meet with the PDP-Laban party officials and members in Manila on Thursday in order to address the internal dispute.
“He wants to unify the party. He will clarify that he remains chairman of the party and he will be there. He will be in the PDP meeting,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“As far as the President is concerned, he is chair of PDP-Laban and there is only one PDP-Laban,” he added.
Roque had previously declined to comment on the alleged infighting in the party, choosing to defer to the ruling party’s spokespersons.
“I do not know if there are factions, really,” he said.
Go as national auditor
Earlier, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said the President had called for a caucus of the ruling party this week, amid reports of rivalry among factions that helped in Mr. Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Go was elected as interim national auditor of the faction that ousted Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez from the party leadership. — JULIE M. AURELIO