'WALA SA AGENDA 'YAN'

No plan to oust Pacquiao as acting PDP president in July meeting —Nograles

Voting out Senator Manny Pacquiao as acting PDP-Laban president is not part of the agenda for the party's meeting in July, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.

"Wala sa agenda 'yan [That's not in the agenda]. That was not even in the agenda of the national council meeting in Cebu," Nograles, a PDP-Laban member, told ANC in an interview when asked if voting out Pacquiao is part of the agenda.

The meeting, organized by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi who is also the party's vice chairman, will be held on July 17.

"We are still discussing what would be included in the agenda in the National Council meeting on July 16 and the National Assembly on July 17. Right now, there is no indication what would be included in our agenda for both," Nograles said.

Nograles, however, said not all incumbent PDP-Laban officials are sitting in full-time capacity, and that such occupancy must be ratified by the party for an official to become full-time.

"We have officials in PDP-Laban who are in the acting or interim capacity, but that is only interim until we have a national council or national assembly. Yes, there will be voting because there are still acting officials," he said.

Pressed if there is a possibility that Pacquiao will be voted out in his current position in the July meetings, Nograles said, "If you go by party rules, if we need to ratify the officials who are in acting position then yes, that has to pass through the body."

"If that is not ratified, somebody else has to get elected," he added.

Nograles also could not say if Speaker Lord Allan Velasco will take over Pacquiao's position. "These matters will be discussed in the National Council meeting in July," he said.

PDP-Laban held a meeting last month in Cebu but Pacquiao did not attend the meeting and even called on other members to ignore it. The meeting, however, had the blessing of President Rodrigo Duterte, who sits as PDP-Laban Chairman. 

Pacquiao has earlier said he is not attending the July 17 assembly.   —KBK, GMA News