PDP-Laban holds fellowship dinner amid speakership coup rumors

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) held a fellowship dinner amid rumors of involvement in an ouster plot against Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

In Mav Gonzales' Thursday report on 24 Oras, PDP-Laban said that the event had been planned long before news of the alleged coup plot against Cayetano broke out.

"The leadership of PDP-Laban decided that we should strategize, we should plan out, ano ba ang dapat nating gawin," PDP-Laban spokesperson and Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said.

According to the members, the dinner was held to allow the members to bond.

"The purpose actually, first, is to strengthen, reinvigorate, or reorganize the party," he added.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, a PDP-Laban member, hosted the event at his home.

In attendance were Senator Koko Pimentel, party chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, its vice president, as well as 51 out of 62 members of the party.

During the fellowship dinner, the party members agreed to hold a dialogue with Cayetano on Monday.

"To show the sincerity of the speaker, and to show also our sincerity, para both ways para ma-defuse na itong problema na ito," Pimentel said.

"The speaker, and we, of course, ourselves, propose that there should be a dialogue between PDP-Laban and Speaker Cayetano himself," he added.

‘Coup attempt’

Pimentel denied the party was involved in moves to unseat Cayetano.

"PDP-Laban does not have any knowledge of this alleged coup d'état, and if there ever is a plan, then PDP definitely will not be a part, will not be involved, will not participate," Pimentel said.

"Sinabi ko rin na ang stand ng PDP laban is that we remain committed to support the leadership of Speaker Cayetano. PDP-Laban will abide by the term sharing agreement that has been brokered by the president," he added.

Cayetano previously alleged that Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco was working on removing him from office by offering congressmen with committee chairmanships.

Velasco is set to replace Cayetano at the helm of the chamber in October based on a term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News