Pimentel: All welcome in PDP-Laban but no druggies

PALO, Leyte — Everybody is welcome to join the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte but it will close its doors to officials suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said.

“We are not looking at personalities, except that they should believe in the party’s program of government. I don’t even look at political records of potential members but they should not be linked to drugs because it’s useless,” said Pimentel, who officiated the oath-taking of 2,000 new members of the administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Eastern Visayas region last week.

Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, said members could be removed from the party if the President would find out they were involved in drugs.

Among those who joined the administration party were four governors, two representatives, a vice governor, 81 mayors and their respective council members and barangay officials.

Pimentel said he expected the new members to strengthen PDP-Laban in Eastern Visayas. —Joey A. Gabieta