Pacquiao warns Cusi: Don't go around poisoning minds of PDP-Laban members

PDP-Laban president and Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday called out Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the ruling party's vice chairman, and told him not to "poison" the minds of their party members as politics should not be their priority right now.

At a press conference, Pacquiao made clarification on the circulating resolution of some party members, urging President Rodrigo Duterte to run as vice president in 2022.

Pacquiao said Cusi should prioritize helping the public and refrain from discussing politics, adding that Cusi should not cause division among PDP-Laban members.

"'Yung salita mo, panindigan mo... Huwag mong kainin 'yung salita na sabi mo huwag muna pulitika, tulong muna sa tao. 'Yan ang ano ko eh, huwag mo dinidivide 'yung isipan ng mga miyembro ng partido para gamitin mo sa sarili mo," Pacquiao said.

(Stand by what you said. Don't break your promise to help the public and not to focus on politics. Don't divide our party-mates for your personal interest.)

"Unless kung umikot ka para magbigay ng tulong sa mga kababayan, palakpakan kita, matutuwa ko. Pero kung umiikot ka, pulitika ang pinaguusapan mo, huwag mong ganyanin... huwag mong lasunin ang utak ng miyembro ng partido para magkahiwa-hiwalay," he said.

(I'd be happy and applaud you if you go around helping our fellow Filipinos. But if you go around talking about politics, don't do that. Don't poison the minds of our party-mates to caus e division.)

The senator said he is not engaging in a fight with Cusi but this should be a warning to him.

"Hindi ako 'yung tao na puwede mo lang laru-laruin. Warning lang 'to, hindi ako nakikipag-away sayo. Gusto ko makipagkaibigan sayo," Pacquiao said.

(I am not the type you can play around with. This is just a warning, I'm not picking a fight. I want to be friends with you.)

Cusi has yet to respond to GMA News Online's request for comment.

According to PDP-Laban executive vice chairman Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Cusi already expressed his view of prioritizing addressing the pandemic instead of talking about politics at this time.

Pimentel also said he agrees with Cusi.

Conflict within PDP-Laban?

Both Pacquiao and Pimentel said there is no conflict among members of the ruling party, especially now that the election season is already approaching.

"Walang gusot sa PDP-Laban (There's no in-fighting in PDP-Laban)," Pacquiao said.

"Huwag niyo i-categorize na may in-fighting (Don't categorize this as in-fighting)," Pimentel also said.

Pimentel said the President, the party's chairman, has instructed them to assist people affected by the pandemic. -MDM, GMA News