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KOKO SAYS EVENT UNAUTHORIZED

PDP-Laban faction elects new officials


People who claimed to be officials of the regional councils of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Friday elected a new set of officers of the party.

At a national assembly held in Quezon City, only two officials were retained: President Rodrigo Duterte as the party chairman and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go as the auditor.

“He (Go) accepted the position auditor provided ang sabi po niya, President Duterte will remain as chairman. Eh hindi naman po natin pinagtatalunan 'yan. He remains as our chairman of the party,” Rogelio Garcia, who was elected new party president, said.

But Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, warned a few days ago that this assembly was “not officially sanctioned” by the party.

Willie Talag, newly-elected party secretary general, said the national assembly was in accordance with their constitution and bylaws.

“Ang sinasabi ng ating constitution and bylaws eh kailangan pong ganapin quarterly, yearly. And magkaroon po every two years ng eleksyon sa pamunuan po ng national,” Talag said.

Organizers of the general assembly maintained Pimentel’s term as party president ended on June 30, 2018.

Talag also added that they had advised all members of the party about Friday’s national assembly via publication in various newspapers, also in accordance with their constitution and bylaws.

He said that if someone had violated the party’s constitution and bylaws, it was Pimentel.

“Yun pong mga pagbibigay, halimbawa, ng mass oathtaking sa iba’t ibang lugar na hindi po dumaan sa proper basic membership seminar ng ating partido PDP-Laban. At ang nangyari nga po diyan ay yung iba doon na nakasumpa ay involved pa po sa droga,” Talag said.

Clueless members?

Garcia also clarified that, “Hindi po kami rogue members. We are legitimate members of the party ever since. Hindi pa po senador si Koko Pimentel, kasama na kami ng tatay niya, ni Ka Sen. (Aquilino) Nene Pimentel Jr. Siya po ang sa totoo lamang diyan, he made himself president of the party after (former) Vice President (Jejomar) Binay resigned from the party. Wala po siyang affirmation ng isang national asssembly to confirm his becoming a president of the party.”

Garcia also said the national assembly was funded by personal money of the council leaders.

But it was only after the elections and the oathtaking of the new officials that the body ratified a resolution calling for the conduct of the national assembly.

Garcia estimated that about 4,000 supposed members attended the national assembly, a small number compared to his estimate of 30,000 legitimate members.

Some of those who attended didn’t know what the event was, while some thought the activity was for the election of a party-list.

‘Enjoy the show’

Sought for reaction, Pimentel dismissed the election conducted by the supposed members of his political party.

“Don't believe them and just enjoy their show,” Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, said in a message to reporters.

He said he does not want to talk about the event as some people might think that it is legitimate.

“Ayoko pag-usapan ‘yan kasi unauthorized ‘yun at baka may maloko pa,” he said in a separate interview with reporters Thursday,

He urged those who will be fooled by the individuals to file a case.

“Dinadala nila ang name kaya meron kaming notice to the public na mag-ingat kayo diyan pero kung may maloko, naperahan, file sila ng estafa cases,” he said.

Ron Munsayac, chairman of the PDP public information and communications committee, said those who conducted the election were rogue members and they will be dealt with in accordance to their party rules.

“We have already expelled some of them and after a thorough investigation will expel a few more. The others no need to expel because they aren't legitimate party members. Because may process ang pagsali sa partido, and karamihan diyan 'di nakumpleto ang proseso,” he said.

He added anyone can go to the Commission on Elections to check who are their officials led by their chairman, President Duterte; vice chairman, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi; president, Sen. Pimentel, and secretary general, former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

As early as July 20, Pimentel's group has already issued a “notice to the public” to warn the people against individuals who identify themselves as officers of the organization.

The party said it has come to their attention that some individuals have called for a national assembly on July 27 at the Amoranto Amphitheater in Quezon City.

The party said such event and their other activities are not officially sanctioned.

“We wish to inform the party members and the public that these individuals have no authority to represent the party or its national council and are therefore usurpers of party authority,” the notice said.

It said those individuals will be dealt with in accordance with existing election, criminal laws, and party rules. — MDM, GMA News

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