MANILA, Philippines — The PDP-Laban Cusi faction’s endorsement of the presidential candidacy of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is like a slap to the legacy of the political party, presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao said Tuesday.
Pacquiao pointed out that PDP-Laban was established to oppose the regime of Marcos Jr.’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“‘Yang PDP-Laban na yan nabuo yan para sa against Marcos tapos sasapi kay Marcos. Parang isang sampal para sa mga miyembro ng PDP Laban,” he told reporters.
(The PDP-Laban was established to oppose the Marcos regime and then they will endorse the late dictator’s son. It’s like a slap to PDP Laban members.)
He said that Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi seems like he does not know the history of the political party and no member should listen to him.)
He added that Cusi should rethink his decision if he really has any care for the party.
“Kung totoo siyang nagmamahal sa partido, isipin niyang mabuti yung ginagawa niya. Pag isipan niyang mabuti kung itutuloy niya yang pagsusupport sa Marcoses. Ang mga ideas nitong PDP ay para sa bayan. Para sa mga mahihirap. Nabuo ito para sa bayan, para sa bawat Pilipino,” Pacquiao said.
(If he really cares about the party, he should think about his actions. He should rethink the move to support Marcos. The ideas of the PDP Laban is for the nation, for the poor. It was created for the Filipinos.)
The Cusi wing, which is led by President Rodrigo Duterte, has officially endorsed the presidential candidacy of Marcos Jr.
It has earlier adopted Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as its vice presidential bet.
The camp of Marcos said the endorsement of the PDP-Laban faction signals that their message of national unity is “gaining ground.”
Pacquiao has been at odds with the PDP-Laban Cusi wing because his camp, along with Senator Koko Pimentel, is contesting the ownership of PDP-Laban, claiming they are the legitimate members of the party.
Pimentel had said that Cusi wing’s move to endorse Marcos shows that they are “strangers to PDP-Laban.”
Malacañang said it remains unclear if President Rodrigo Duterte would endorse Marcos despite the support of his party.