Duterte ousted? Pimentel elected as new PDP-Laban chair by faction

A PDP-Laban faction led by Senators Manny Pacquiao and Koko Pimentel gathered on Sunday to elect Pimentel as the new chairman of the party, effectively removing President Rodrigo Duterte.

“PDP LABAN elects Sen. Koko Pimentel as Chairman of the National Council and Former Eastern Samar Governor Lutgardo Barbo as Vice Chairman,” a statement issued by PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac said.

“The PDP Laban also scheduled its National Assembly in September 2021 where the party will be nominating their presidential candidate. A resolution congratulating Sen. Manny Pacquiao for a good fight was also passed by the PDP Laban National Council officials,” it said.

The PDP-Laban has split into two opposing camps, one led by Pimentel and Pacquiao and the other led by Duterte and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who had himself installed as PDP-Laban president in July.

“Grassroots Leaders from different parts of the country witnessed the installation of new PDP Laban leadership,” the Pimentel group said.

In a statement, Pimentel said: “Meron pong grupo na gustong agawin ang ating partido dahil meron silang plano sa politika na sikreto o hindi nila mapaliwanag ng mabuti. Mga baguhan lamang sa ating partido.”

“Hindi po ang partido natin ang make or break sa eleksyon next year. Make or break po ang bansa natin. Ang kinabukasan ng bansa ang nakataya. Ganyan kahalaga ang darating na eleksyon,” he added.

The group is expected to join the Party’s National Assembly in September to decide its candidates for the 2021 elections.

But PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag, who belongs to the Cusi faction, said the Pimentel’s election was a “comedy.”

“Sen. Koko Pimentel has no position in the PDP Laban. He is irrelevant and he does not represent the party. His group are pretenders and are attention seekers,” he said.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the PDP Laban party Chairman. He remains to be so and will continue to be so,” he added.

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