FILE – PDP-Laban vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi: Let’s not divide our party. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — PDP-Laban vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi called for an end to “all-party hostilities” as he led a national council meeting in the face of escalating disputes within the group.
“I call for party unity and respect for our party Constitution. Let us work together in furtherance of our party’s collective interests. Let us not allow personal ambition to dictate upon our party members,” Cusi said in his opening remarks during the meeting being held in Pampanga.
“Let us mature as a party and advance its principles. I call for a stop to all party hostilities. I ask all members – do not divide this party. Do not burn bridges,” he added.
Despite a rift within the party, the council meeting went ahead. The cracks in the party further widened after Cusi and two others were expelled by party president Senator Manny Pacquiao and the PDP-Laban National Executive Committee (NEC) last week.
“We have a process enshrined in our Constitution,” Cusi said during Friday’s meeting.
Shortly after his remarks, the national council voted to void the resolution.
READ: PDP-Laban national council voids ‘illegal’ expulsion of Cusi, 2 other execs
On July 17, a national assembly will be held, with no less than party chairman President Rodrigo Duterte presiding over the event.
This assembly, however, has been declared as “unauthorized” by Pacquiao’s camp, which includes Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, executive vice chairman of PDP-Laban and son of one of its founders, former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.
READ: Pimentel: Duterte in PDP-Laban assembly shows he’s following Cusi’s lead
Pacquiao has warned those who would attend the assembly that they could be suspended or expelled from the party.
Cusi had alleged earlier that the division began after Pacquiao became acting party chairman without Duterte’s knowledge.
READ: Duterte unaware, not consulted on Pacquiao taking over PDP-Laban presidency
But Pimentel believed that the secrecy of Cusi’s faction was what set off the conflict. The senator said Cusi’s group wants to take control of the party so it can field an “outsider” as PDP-Laban’s standard-bearer in 2022.
READ: Koko wants PDP-Laban Cusi faction to bare ‘hidden’ presidential bet
Cusi has already denied Pimentel’s suspicions.
READ: Cusi debunks Pimentel: ‘There will be no power grab’ in PDP-Laban