FILE Senator Koko Pimentel and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III tagged Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as the “brains” behind an alleged attempt to grab power in the ruling PDP-Laban.
Pimentel is executive vice chairman of PDP-Laban and son of its founder, the late Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, while Cusi serves as its vice chairman.
“We will continue acting that we are the PDP-Laban; ang paper trail, headquarters, history, ang continuation nun sa amin e (are all ours). If ever may changes, it’s a power grab,’” he said in an online interview with reporters on Monday.
“Ngayon ang tanong (Now the question is), is that a legitimate expression of the will of the party, this power grab?” added Pimentel.
The senator said they would also prove that those trying to grab power are “not genuine or real members of the party.”
Asked later who were behind this power grab, Pimentel pointed to Cusi.
“Ang lantad kasi na nag aaksyon si Secretary Cusi,” he said, “Siya yung brains ng kilos.”
(The one who’s doing it outright is Secretary Cusi. He is the brains of the movement.)
According to Pimentel, Cusi had been discussing with him his desire to reorganize the party supposedly to prepare for the 2022 elections.
But when Pacquiao assumed the party presidency last December, Cusi’s group suddenly got worried, the senator said.
“So ang tanong bakit ba kayo (So the questions is, why are you) worried? What’s the problem? Why are you too worried that Sen. Pacquiao is now the president of the party…What got you so worried, ano bang problema (What’s the problem)?”
PDP-Laban expelled Cusi and two other party officials last Friday for allegedly violating provisions its own constitution.