Alfonso Cusi
MANILA, Philippines — Energy Secretary and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) vice-chairman Alfonso Cusi on Wednesday disagreed that the recently held national assembly of the party was in violation of the party’s Constitution.
“Wala pong naging violation,” Cusi said in an online media forum when asked if he thinks PDP-Laban’s Constitution was violated in convening the party’s national assembly.
(There’s no violation.)
“Marami lang po nagsasabi na yung pagtawag ng meeting, walang authority. Siguro binalewala lang po kasi minaliit lang po ng ibang tao yung pagmemeeting,” he added.
(Many said there was no authority to call for the meeting. Maybe some think it doesn’t matter as it was being downplayed by others.)
PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac earlier said Cusi had no authority to convene the party, as only President Rodrigo Duterte as chairman and Senator Manny Pacquiao as acting president can call for a national assembly.
Pacquiao earlier discouraged members from attending the assembly that was called by Cusi, but it was later on revealed that Duterte himself had ordered to convene the party’s members.
“Malaki po ang hinaharap ng ating bansa, pandemya at iba pong problema na kasama nyan. Ang sinasabi lang po is that the party cannot just stand quiet. We have to help the administration,” Cusi said, explaining why the party was convened.
(The country is facing a huge problem, the pandemic among others. What we’re saying is the party cannot just stand quiet. We have to help the administration.)
“Responsibilidad po ng partido na tumulong, hindi lang po during election magsasalita ang mga partido. Pagkatapos ng election, tulungan po natin ang elected official.”
(It is the party’s responsibility to help. The party should not just speak out during the election. After the election, we should help the elected officials.)
It was during the national assembly when PDP-Laban formally urged Duterte to run as vice president in the 2022 national elections.