Boxed out of own party: Pacquiao ousted, Cusi in as PDP-Laban president

Senator Manny Pacquiao has been ousted from his own party, PDP-Laban, in a maneuver witnessed by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, whom Pacquiao expelled from PDP-Laban earlier this month, was installed as the party president during the national assembly held in Clark, Pampanga.

Pacquiao was effectively ousted as PDP-Laban’s acting president when the national assembly declared all positions of national officers and committee chairpersons vacant.

PDP-Laban deputy secretary general Melvin Matibag, however, claimed Pacquiao wasn’t ousted since the party constitution provides for a two-year term for national officers.

“Everyone is acting on a (sic) holdover capacity,” he told reporters.

Pacquiao took his oath as PDP-Laban president in 2020 after the post was vacated by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the son of the party’s founder, the late senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

In a statement, Pacquiao expressed dismay over the party members’ decision to prioritize politicking rather than addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nakakalungkot na nakapasok na ang Delta variant sa Pilipinas at kapag hindi maagapan, marami ang maaaring mahawa. Ito dapat ang prioridad ng ating gobyerno. Kung sa tingin nila Cusi at iba pa na mas importante ang politika sa ngayon, bahala na sila. Sa huli, isa lang naman ang tanong na dapat sagutin. Sino ba ang sasamahan ng taong bayan?” he said.

Pacquiao is currently in the United States to prepare for his boxing match next month against Errol Spence Jr.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)