MAJORITY WING? | Pacquiao ally says they ‘have numbers’ over Cusi’s group in PDP-Laban

September 1, 2021 , 01:49 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(September 1, 2021) – Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s faction in Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Tuesday expressed confidence in having larger numbers compared to the rival wing led by Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Former Eastern Samar Gov. Lutgardo Barbo, the newly elected PDP-Laban vice chairperson, insisted their group holds a much larger base, although he was unable to provide an estimated number of members.

“We are told we have the numbers, kami may hawak ng headquarters,” said Barbo on One News’ The Chiefs. “At the very least, last Sunday, we had more than the majority to transact the business of the national council. Sa general assembly makikita ‘yung tunay na dami ng miyembro.”

Pacquiao’s faction held a meeting to oust President Rodrigo Duterte as PDP-Laban chairperson, replacing him with Sen. Koko Pimentel III in an effort to establish their legitimacy amid the internal rift. Cusi’s group refused to honor the proceedings of the said meeting.

The majority of Pimentel’s support came from the original members of PDP-Laban. The political group was founded in 1983 after Pimentel’s father, the late former senator Nene Pimentel Jr., merged with democracy icon Ninoy Aquino Jr.’s Laban to oppose the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.

Barbo ridiculed the new members who wanted to take the leadership, accusing them of bringing in people who were not duly recognized as legitimate members of PDP-Laban. He speculated some joined the ruling party based on Duterte’s promise of bringing “sacks of money” for the campaign period.

“Baguhan lang sila. Cusi was nowhere to be found when we were fighting Marcos and his rapacious and brutal dictatorship. Fair-weather politicians lang sila,” added Barbo, explaining that legitimate members undergo basic seminars and pay fees.

Cusi, on the other hand, has repeatedly insisted they also have the majority support in PDP-Laban after conducting several conventions over the last two months. His group also submitted its own sworn information update statement to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) like what Pimentel did.

Barbo said Comelec will also look back on the basic facts that both factions submitted to rule fairly on the recognition dispute before the 2022 elections.

Cusi’s wing has been eager to win the squabble in order to field Sen. Bong Go and Duterte as PDP-Laban’s top candidates. He said Go remains as their top pick for standard-bearer even if he already turned down the offer. Pimentel, meanwhile, might field Pacquiao as the top bet.

“Dapat namang i-consider hindi lang ang karamihan. Papaano kung without our knowing—because they (Cusi’s faction) are going to use definitely government resources—magdala sila roon ng tao sa meetings at sabihin na ito ay nag-seminar, nagbayad na, ito ay tunay na PDP-Laban na?” said Barbo. “Comelec will look into it.”

(PM)

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