PDP-Laban to expel members on narcolist even if they win in May polls

Members of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) named on President Rodrigo Duterte's "narcolist" will be expelled even if they win the May 13 polls, the party spokesperson said Thursday.

The party's public information committee chairman and spokesperson Ronwald Munsayac said that they are awaiting the written response of the concerned members.

“We are still waiting for the response. Sinulatan na namin ‘yung mga candidate. Baka busy pa sila sa election,” he said in a press conference with party campaign manager Senator Manny Pacquiao.

“It doesn't mean na natapos na ang eleksyon e tapos na rin. If they cannot satisfactorily explain to the party, kahit panalo sila we have to expel them,” Munsayac added.

The narcolist released by Duterte in March included at least 10 members of the ruling party. Eight of them ran in the May polls, or have certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA), and two are incumbent mayors who did not run.

PDP-Laban president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III vowed to expel members who will not be able to give a satisfactory explanation for their inclusion in Duterte's list.

“We will require all those on the list who turn out to be PDP-Laban members to explain why they have been linked in a verified list to drugs,” he said in a statement then.

“And if we find their explanation to be unsatisfactory then we will expel them from the PDP- Laban,” he added. — BM, GMA News