Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Manny Pacquiao. FILE PHOTOS / INQUIRER / SENATE PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party pushed through with its national council meeting Friday as what appears to be a power struggle between two factions within the party continues.
Several members of PDP-Laban gathered at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga despite calls from high-ranking officials such as party president Senator Manny Pacquiao and party executive vice chairman Senator Koko Pimentel for members not to attend the meeting—which they said as “unauthorized.”
Following the national council meeting, PDP-Laban will hold a national assembly on July 17, Saturday, where an election of party officers will take place.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who is the chairman of the party, will attend the July 17 assembly, according to PDP-Laban deputy secretary general Atty. Melvin Matibag.
A combination photo of Senator Manny Pacquiao (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte (right). INQUIRER FILES
Pimentel, however, said that Duterte’s attendance in the assembly does not make it legitimate.
Party infighting
PDP-Laban held its national council meeting as two factions appear to form within the party—one led by Pacquiao and Pimentel, and the other led by party vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
The infighting has come to a point where Pacquiao expelled Cusi and two other officials for allegedly violating provisions of the party’s constitution “by showing allegiance to a political party apart from PDP-Laban.”
In a resolution dated July 3, 2021, Pacquiao said Cusi supposedly admitted that he is open to the candidacy of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as president, and President Duterte as vice president.
Duterte-Carpio is not a member of PDP-Laban and is currently the chairman of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
At one point, Pimentel accused Cusi of being the “brains” behind an alleged attempt to grab power in the ruling PDP-Laban.