‘Political gimmick’: Cusi won’t recognize PDP-Laban expulsion

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Ousted PDP-Laban vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi branded as “political gimmickry” his expulsion from the ruling party and would not recognize such move to remove him and his other colleagues from their party posts.

“Sinasabi na we were expelled and we don’t recognize that because one, we have not received any notice. We only learned it from the media, from the newspaper and TV reports,” Cusi told reporters in an online interview.

“We don’t recognize that and we consider that parang political gimmick lang,” he added.

Cusi and two other officials were recently expelled from PDP-Laban for alleged violation of provisions under the party’s own constitution.

“It did not go through any process. Because our constitution, by the party’s constitution and bylaws, there is due process in expelling members,” he said.

“Not an execom or the executive committee, supposedly composed by Senator [Manny] Pacquiao, can expel members. Only the national council can expel members belonging to the national leadership,” he added.

In a separate television interview on ABS-CBN News Channel, Cusi said he and his two colleagues were not given the chance to air their side or appeal their expulsion.

He said they should have at least been notified of their supposed violation of the party’s constitution.

“They just called the executive committee or Pacquiao’s committee, and allegedly they evaluated and we’ve been expelled but there’s no due process, we should have been notified in the first place,” Cusi said.

“We should have been notified of our violation, we should have been there, we should have given our side and thereafter we can even appeal, so there is a process,” he added.

Despite Cusi’s expulsion, President Rodrigo Dutere, chairman of PDP-Laban, still recognized Cusi’s leadership in the party, according to Malacañang.

EDV