Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Senate PRIB file photo / Voltaire F. Domingo
MANILA, Philippines — The PDP-Laban wing headed by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senator Manny Pacquiao has a program that will let “misled” party members from the Cusi-led faction to return, Pimentel said Saturday.
The program, however, will not be open to leaders of the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, according to Pimentel.
“Ang gagawin namin, pero doon lamang ito sa mga talagang, ‘yung parang feeling nila namislead sila, parang naloko sila, meron kaming ‘Balik PDP-Laban Program.’ Pero doon sa mga leaders talaga ng power-grabber o breakaway group, hindi na po open ito sa kanila,” Pimentel said in an interview with DWIZ.
(We will have a “Balik PDP-Laban Program” for those who felt misled. But this will not be open to leaders of the power-grabber and breakaway group.)
“Pero doon lang po sa mga nalihis, nagkamali ng desisyon dahil napangakuan na ito ang linya natin, o sige follow the leader lang kami, namislead kami. Mayroon po kaming ‘Balik PDP Laban Program’ para sa kanila,” he added.
(It is for those who were misled and made wrong decisions because they were promised something and followed their leaders. We have a “Balik PDP-Laban Program for them.”)
Pimentel said those who want to return to the “real” PDP-Laban should write to their headquarters in order to apply for the program.
“Para ito sa mga naisyuhan ng CONA (certificate of nomination and acceptance) na PDP-Laban, para lang malegitimize na rin ang pagtakbo nila, kasi baka maquestion pa ‘yan. Dadaan sila sa proseso. Aayusin ‘yung pwede maayos,” he added.
(This is for those who were issued CONA from PDP-Laban so their candidacy will be legitimized. They will undergo the right process. We will fix whatever we can.)
The ruling party has been split into two factions: the one led by Cusi that supports Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s candidacy for president; and the other led by Pimentel and Pacquiao which supports the candidacy of the boxing champion-turned-senator.
However, Go recently announced he is withdrawing from the presidential race, saying it is “not yet [his] time.”