Sen. Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III\ (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — The ruling PDP-Laban may “cease to exist” should an “outsider” be endorsed by the party as its presidential bet in the 2022 polls, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel warned.
“Ang nakikita ko, by supporting an outsider, ililiko nila yung partido, the outsider wins. Talunan na lahat dito sa party [ng outsider]—kasi may vehicle na itong outsider, may [sariling] party,” Pimentel, executive vice chairman of PDP-Laban, said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum Wednesday.
“Ano ang gagawin sa PDP-Laban? Ifo-fold nila. Lalamunin ito and we will cease to exist. That’s my mission lang, to make sure that itong partidong ito na dugo na po ang na-invest namin diyan…matuloy ang existence,” he added.
Pimentel and the faction led by expelled PDP-Laban vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi have been at odds with each other.
The senator said Cusi’s faction is pushing for an “outsider” to be the party’s standard-bearer.
While Pimentel did not mention a name, presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is reportedly being groomed to succeed her father.
Last week, Duterte-Carpio said she is open to running for the position following months of maintaining that she does not want to run for higher office in 2022.
The Davao mayor is not a member of the PDP-Laban, of which President Rodrigo Duterte serves as chairman. The presidential daughter had formed the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) as her own regional party .
“Ang concern namin…walang hidden agenda, na i-fold kami, i-surrender kami sa ibang partido, because sayang naman yung basic principles, basic ideology ng partido, ifo-fold mo lang kami,” Pimentel went on.
The senator said he just wants Cusi’s faction to be “honest” as to who they are grooming as the presidential candidate in 2022.
“At least ako sinasabi ko si Sen. Pacquiao baka interesado, ilagay na yung name. Kayo ba may ilalagay?” Pimentel said.
“Ngayon, sa media, merong outsider na gusto nilang kunin,” he added.
Cusi, who was expelled from the PDP-Laban party along with two other officials, denied pushing for a party “outsider” as standard-bearer.
He also refused to recognize his expulsion, adding that the move to remove him was a mere “political gimmick.”