PDP-Laban faction hits invite to Sara’s Edsa rally

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III

MANILA, Philippines — A faction of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) distanced itself on Monday from a rival group of the once-ruling political party, which had called on the public to go to Edsa Shrine to support those calling for the resignation of President Marcos.

“We urge the public to discern truth from manipulation and to avoid being swayed by those who exploit our nation’s political landscape for their gain,” the faction led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former Sen. Manny Pacquiao said in a statement.

“The actions of this rogue faction are neither representative of PDP-Laban’s ideals nor the aspirations of its founding members and loyal supporters,” it added.

The statement was signed by Pimentel as chair and Pacquiao as president.

READ: Comelec recognizes Cusi wing as ‘true, official’ PDP-Laban

The statement was issued after the rival PDP-Laban faction led by former President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public to join Vice President Sara Duterte’s supporters who had been gathering at the historic Edsa Shrine since Tuesday last week.

Self-serving

The Pimentel-led faction denounced what it described as “reckless actions and inflammatory statements of the self-serving faction falsely claiming to represent our political party.”

“Their call for public disturbance and their misuse of the party name for selfish political motives is a betrayal of the principles upon which the PDP-Laban was founded—principles centered on justice, peace and the rule of law,” it said.

“We emphasize that the PDP-Laban stands firmly behind the Constitution, the rule of law and the democratically elected government. The Philippines [is facing] enough challenges and the last thing our nation needs is division and destabilization at the hands of those who prioritize personal agendas over the welfare of the Filipino people,” it added.

Pimentel’s group reiterated its commitment to “genuine public service, nation-building and advancing the interests of every Filipino not to sow discord, but to foster unity and progress.”

“Let us move forward in solidarity, respecting our institutions and focusing on solutions that uplift our people,” it said.

Call to action

On Sunday, the PDP-Laban faction of Duterte and his close allies called on Filipinos to express their opinion regarding the supposed political oppression under the Marcos administration.

“Go out! Let’s go to Edsa Shrine!” the group said in a Facebook post.

“Let’s awaken those whose eyes are closed and those who pretend to be deaf … We are not Filipinos for nothing! Let’s show the strength and courage of ordinary people,” it added.

Established in 1983, the party was a coalition between PDP, founded by Pimentel’s father and namesake, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., and the Laban party of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

The elder Pimentel and Aquino were both opposition leaders during the martial law regime of the President’s late father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

In the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections, the PDP-Laban fielded Duterte, then Davao City mayor, as its standard-bearer and party chair.

It became the ruling party in the country after Duterte won the presidency.

But the party was divided into two groups after the Pimentel-led faction chose Pacquiao as its standard-bearer for the 2022 presidential elections while Duterte’s group supported the candidacy of then former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Commission on Elections resolved the leadership issue when it recognized Duterte’s faction as the “true and official” members of PDP-Laban in a decision it issued in May 2022.

Pimentel’s faction then elevated the dispute to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the matter.