The crucial role that Rodrigo Duterte plays in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan cannot be overlooked.(Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) members will be reduced to a “jeepney-sized” group should they oust their chairman President Rodrigo Duterte from the party, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque noted that PDP-Laban only had a handful of members before Duterte joined them.
“Eh alam naman po natin halos wala naman miyembro po ng PDP Laban bago naging Presidente si Pangulong Duterte ‘no so hindi ko po alam kung saan nanggagaling iyang ganiyang salita ng PDP Laban,” Roque said in an online briefing.
(We know that PDP-Laban was almost nonexistent before President Duterte became President, so I have no idea where that statement came from.)
“Ulitin ko po, isang jeepney lang po ang PDP Laban bago po sumali diyan si Presidente Duterte. Kung aalisin ninyo po si Presidente sa PDP Laban, balik kayo sa isang jeepney,” he added.
(PDP-Laban was just the size of a jeepney before President Duterte joined them. If you remove the President from PDP-Laban, you will return to functioning as a small jeepney again.)
PDP-Laban’s national education committee Rufina Pines Arcega earlier reportedly said Duterte could be removed from the party should he accept the unauthorized resolution urging him to run for vice president.
But for Roque, Duterte could run with or without any party should he really decide to vie for the vice presidency.
“Eh bahala po sila kung anong gagawin nila. ‘Pag nagdesisyon ang Presidenteng tumakbo ng Bise Presidente kahit anong partido pa, kahit walang partido tatakbo po iyan,” Roque said.
(Let them do whatever they want. If the President decides to run for vice president, he will run under any party or without one.)
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and two other officials were expelled for supposedly violating the PDP-Laban’s constitution. They were among those who pushed Duterte to run for vice president.
READ: PDP-Laban expels Cusi, 2 other execs for allegedly violating party rules
However, Roque said Duterte still recognizes Cusi’s leadership in the party and intends to attend the July 17 PDP-Laban meeting.
READ: Duterte recognizes Cusi’s leadership, to attend PDP-Laban meeting on July 17