Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Manny Pacquiao. FILE PHOTOS / SENATE PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao frowned at insinuations that President Rodrigo Duterte owns the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Party vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso earlier mentioned telling party-mates in jest that PDP stands for President Duterte’s Party, a joke that Pacquaio did not find funny.
“Parang lasing yata sya nung nagsasabi sya ng ganun…” the senator said over Teleradyo’s “On the Spot” on Thursday.
(It seems like he was drunk when he was saying that)
“Itong partido na ito, parang ginagawa nyang trapo na partido, parang ginagawa nya na katulad ng mga ibang partido,” he said.
(You are turning this party into a “trapo,” like other “trapo” parties)
Pacquiao pointed out that if there’s any real owner of PDP-Laban, it would be the family of incumbent Senator “Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, whose father and namesake, former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr, founded the party.
Pacquiao became party president in December last year after the term of Sen. Pimentel, who now latter serves as executive vice chairman of the party.
“Parang magkaroon naman tayo ng delicadeza, kasi ang tunay na may-ari ng partido e yung Pimentel… Sina Sen. Koko Pimentel e suportado ako at sinusuportahan nya yung mga advocacy ko sa partido…” he said.
(We should have delicadeza because the real owner of the party are the Pimentels. Sen. Koko Pimentel is supporting me and my advocacies.)
Pacquiao claimed that at present, he has the support of more than 10,000 active members of PDP-Laban.