FILE Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
MANILA, Philippines — As presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso sought the endorsement of PDP-Laban, his fellow candidate Manny Pacquiao insisted Monday he is still the president of the party.
Pacquiao made the remark amid the infighting within the party, appearing to divide the party into two factions—one led by him and the other led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
“Eh ako naman ang Presidente ng PDP Laban. Kumbaga, ako ang Presidente ng PDP Laban eh sa akin din yan dadaan lahat yung mga ganyan,” Pacquiao said when asked about Domagoso seeking the endorsement of the Cusi-wing which is also backed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
(I am the president of PDP Laban. All of which will go through me.)
Pacquiao is considered by his wing as the president of PDP-Laban. The Cusi faction, however, does not recognize it.
The Cusi faction does not have a presidential candidate for next year’s elections after Senator Bong Go withdrew his presidential bid. Domagoso has since expressed interest to get the support of the Cusi wing, saying the faction has no presidential candidate.
READ: Isko Moreno wants PDP-Laban endorsement; Cusi says ‘no comment’
Pacquiao, for his part, said his priority for PDP-Laban is for its members to unite.
“Nanghinayang nga ako dahil nagka hiwa-hiwalay ang PDP at nawa’y magkaisa ang PDP dahil alam naman natin kung ano ang adbokasiya talaga ng PDP—para talaga sa bayan,” Pacquiao said.
(I feel sad about the breakup of PDP and hoping we can still unite because we really know the advocacies of PDP, which is for our country.)
Pacquiao said there are talks attempting to reconcile the rift within the party.
“’Yung iba yung mga nakakausap namin ay gusto naman nila talaga ng yung pagkakaisa, kailangan nila ng pag uusap at pagkakaisa dahil dahil isang partido lamang,” Pacquiao said.
(Some of those we talked to are hoping we unite, we really need to talk, to unite for a single party.)
Further, Pacquiao said: “So ganun lang, ganun din. Basta magkaisa tayo walang masasamang gawain, kailangan tama ang gagawin natin.”
(We are hoping we could still unite, no wrongdoings, and do what is right.)
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