PRESIDENT Duterte has backed the council meeting of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) called by its vice chairman, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, dealing a blow to party president Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who had called for its boycott earlier.
In a statement on Sunday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said no less than Duterte, chairman of PDP-Laban, directed Cusi to convene and preside over the council meeting.
“This move, which is part of the democratic exercise, aims to consult party members and have fruitful and productive exchanges on issues affecting PDP-Laban,” Roque said.
He issued the clarification after Senator Manny Pacquiao urged their members to “ignore” the assembly called by Cusi for Monday, May 31, 2021.
Pacquiao said only the president and the chairman of the PDP-Laban has the power to call for an assembly.
This, after the lawmaker earlier warned Cusi against sowing division within PDP-Laban.
Pacquiao’s camp had said that the senator will not be attending the assembly meeting on Monday.
He said he wants the first ever PDP-Laban meeting during the pandemic to be rescheduled to September instead.
Duterte’s backing of Cusi’s move to call a council meeting is likely to be seen as an indication of cracks in the ruling party, possibly the result of early maneuvers ahead of the 2022 elections.
The world boxing icon turned senator had earlier said he will seek the presidency next year, but other pro-Duterte factions are reportedly moving for other candidates.
There have been calls for Duterte’s daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte to run, but she insists she is not interested.
There are also pitches for the older Duterte to slide down and seek the vice presidency in 2022. He once signalled preference for a run by his most trusted aide, the former Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head now senator Bong Go, but the latter said he would consider it only if his boss, President Duterte, would be his VP.
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