Koko to partymates who support bets outside PDP-Laban: Just leave the group

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Screen grab/Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines—PDP-Laban members supporting another personality outside the group should just leave the party and follow their “idol,” Senator Aquilino ‘Koko” Pimentel said on Wednesday.

As party’s executive vice chairman, Pimentel reminded its members to follow PDP’s ideology and not “personality-based” politics.

And if they love PDP-Laban, he said, they should believe that it has “sufficient talented people” who could lead the country and continue the programs of government based on the party ideology.

PDP-Laban is currently being chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Huwag yung nakatingin sa labas ng partido agad…Para namang walang pagmamahal, walang loyalty at walang bilib sa sarili nyang party so kung ganyan na lang, di lumipat ka na lang doon sa partido na bilib ka or sa partido nung personality na sinusundan mo,” Pimentel said in an interview.

(Let’s not look outside the party as if there’s no love, no loyalty for your own party so you better join other party or the personality that you believe in and support.)

“Huwag yung ang unang political decision mo e titingin ka sa labas ng party. Bakit ganun? Di umalis ka na lang ng party, then you join your idol wherever he or she is. Meron ka palang idol sa labas ng party at personality-based ka pala e pumunta ka na dun. Bakit pinipilit mong maiwan sa ideological-based party,” he went on.

(Don’t make your first political decision is to look outside the party. Just leave the party then you join your idol wherever he or she is. If you have an idol outside the party and you’re personality-based, then just go there. Why choose to stay in ideological-based party?)

The senator then lamented the seeming lack of support for Senator Manny Pacquiao, who is up for re-election in 2022 and is also being floated as possible candidate for president next year.

Pacquiao is acting president of PDP-Laban.

“Hindi ko maintindihan how come parang nire-refuse nila e. Ang prominent ni Senator Manny Pacquiao sa party. Bakit?” Pimentel asked.

(I don’t understand, how come it seems they are refusing him. Senator Manny Pacquiao is prominent in the party. Why?)

“He’s for sure our candidate for a national position. Kung tunay kaming partymates nagtutulungan dapat kami. That’s the very simply way of helping a partymate giving him the exposure through the party.”

(He’s for sure our candidate for a national position. If we are really partymates, we should help each other. That’s the very simple way of helping a partymate giving him the exposure through the party.)

Pacquiao has not announced yet his plans for 2022 but Pimentel believes the world boxing champion is still “consulting God” before making any decision.

“Hintayin na natin syang mag decide and knowing the personality of Senator Pacquiao e kinukunsulta pa nya sa Dyos yan. I’m sure he’s having a conversation with God, anong future plans nya. So we can’t second-guess him so hintayin na natin yun,” he said.

(Let’s wait for him to decide and knowing the personality of Senator Pacquiao, he’s consulting God. I’m sure he’s having a conversation with God about his future plans. So we can’t second-guess him, so let’s wait for it.)

JPV