The national assembly of the PDP Laban called by the faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi pushed through on Saturday over the objections of the Pacquiao-Pimentel camp, leaving the party with two presidents: Cusi and the boxer-senator, who was effectively ousted from that post by the assembly.
Cusi, who as vice chairman had the support of President Duterte, was elected as the new president after the assembly declared 16 positions vacant, including Pacquiaoâs.
Pacquiao, who is in the US preparing for his August bout with Errol Spence, issued a statement expressing sadness that his partymates had chosen to give priority to âpoliticsâ at a time the government must focus on ensuring the Delta variant will not cause a spike in Covid-19 infections. âIf Secretary Cusi and his group think politics is more important at this time, thatâs their lookout. In the end, only one questions needs to be answered: âWho will the people go withâ?â asked Pacquiao, in a mix of English and Filipino.
He had recently announced that a party resolution was adopted expelling Cusi and two others from PDP Laban for openly expressing support for a potential rival candidate from another party, referring to Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, who is allied with HNP.
Sen. Koko Pimentel, who has backed Pacquiao and declared the July 19 assembly called by Cusi as unauthorized, sounded unfazed by the developments.
Pimentel announced that the party leadership, led by Pacquiao as âpresident,â is calling a national assembly or convention in September, which could be partly a physical gathering subject to IATF protocols, or âalso possibly via online.â
Speaking partly in Filipino in a message shared on DWIZ, Pimentel said it is important to âfeel the pulse of membersâ and determine their choices for whom the party will field for the top positions in the 2022 races.
Duterte graced the Cusi-led assembly and even swore in the new officials and led the renewal of oath of party members.
Griping about the constant threats of lawsuits that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio keep hurling his way, Duterte said that since the Constitution conveys immunity on the President and Vice President, âthen Iâll just run as vice president.â