Pacquiao: Cusi, not Duterte, is reason for PDP-Laban infighting

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Manny Pacquiao. FILE PHOTOS / SENATE PRIB and INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — The reason for the “infighting” in the ruling party PDP-Laban is no other than Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday.

Pacquiao said that Cusi, who leads one of the factions in the PDP-Laban, has a lot of “vested interest” in the party.

The infighting within the party has resulted in the formation of two factions—one led by Cusi and President Rodrigo Duterte, and the other led by Pacquiao and Senator Koko Pimentel.

“Ang dahilan dyan ay si Cusi. Siya ang may nakikita natin maraming vested interest dyan. Kalaunan, iniwanan din nila ang partido, wala tuloy tumakbo ng presidente sa partido PDP,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Teleradyo when asked if Duterte is the reason for the infighting within the party.

(The reason behind the infighting is Cusi. He is the one who we see has a lot of vested interest in the party. Eventually, they left the party behind and no one ran for presidency under PDP-Laban.)

INQUIRER.net has sought the comment of Cusi for this story but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

The infighting within PDP-Laban has reached the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as both factions await declaration that their group is the “legitimate” side of the party.

As fate of both factions before the Comelec remained uncertain, their standard bearers opted to file their certificate of candidacy (COC) under another party.

Pacquiao filed his COC for president under the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiative (Promdi) while Senator Bong Go, who is identified with the Cusi-faction, filed his COC for president under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan party.

Go later on announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.

JPV