MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will attend the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) meeting on July 17 as he recognizes the leadership of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s leadership, Malacañang said Monday.
This, even as Cusi and two other officials were expelled for supposedly violating the PDP-Laban’s constitution. The resolution expelling Cusi was signed by party president Senator Manny Pacquiao.
“All I can say is he (Duterte) recognizes the leadership of Sec. Cusi and that is why he will attend the party special meeting on July 17,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.
Pressed on how Duterte will resolve the issues within PDP-Laban, Roque said: “All I can say is what the President has said on the matter. We will resolve all existing disputes within PDP-Laban legally. So abangan na lang po ang susunod na kabanata dyan.”
Pacquiao and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel will skip the scheduled PDP-Laban meeting on July 17 led by Cusi.
They also skipped the previous PDP-Laban meeting held on May 31 which turned out to be ordered by Duterte himself.