Cusi advises Pacquiao to leave PDP-Laban first before criticizing Duterte

Energy Secretary and PDP-Laban vice chairman Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday advised party president Senator Manny Pacquiao to leave the ruling party first before launching criticism against President Rodrigo Duterte— the party chairman.

Cusi made the statement after the President, in a public address Monday night, lashed out at Pacquiao for allegedly criticizing him about the corruption issues during the Duterte administration.

“Well, it’s really unfortunate that the acting president of the party is accusing the chairman—who is the President of the country—of those things, that Senator Pacquiao said openly,” Cusi said in an ANC interview.

“If you don’t like your house… if you don’t like the company you’re working for, don’t say something about it. Lumayas ka muna, bago mo sunugin ang bahay mo (Leave first before burning your house down),” he added.

Pacquiao has yet to respond on media queries regarding Duterte's latest tirade against him.

Duterte earlier criticized Pacquiao after the latter said the country's stance in the West Philippine Sea was lacking.

Cusi then narrated that the rift between his bloc and Pacquiao’s bloc started in December  2020 when there was a thanksgiving party held by the PDP-Laban officials.

Duterte and Cusi were invited, but they were not able to attend the event.

He said they were “surprised” that there was a change of leadership and the party presidency was already turned over to Pacquiao.

Although Cusi said they have nothing against it, he had sought an audience with former PDP-Laban president and now executive vice chairman Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to ask why they were not informed about the change of leadership.

Pimentel then explained to Cusi that they want to give Pacquiao “exposure” in preparation for the 2022 plans.

“Senator Koko explained to us that, you know, to give Senator Manny exposure because I believe he has plans to run for higher office,” Cusi said.

“We don’t mind that but I think it is best that we meet. We tried to meet with Pacquiao but unfortunately for whatever reason, the meeting did not push through. This problem could have been discussed if we have met earlier,” Cusi said in mixed Filipino and English.

In the same ANC interview, Cusi mentioned PDP-Laban’s support for Senator Bong Go and Duterte’s tandem in the May 2022 national elections.

Moreover, Cusi denied that they plan to oust Pacquiao as PDP-Laban president in the upcoming PDP-Laban national assembly on July 17.

But he said it is up to the members of the party to hold an election and decide whether Pacquiao will stay as their president or not.

“That [ousting Pacquiao] is not in my agenda. The agenda that we are having is all party matters but I don’t know how the membership, the council [will decide on it],” he said.

“If Manny Pacquiao is already attacking the President, then I would say he is not supporting the President. Maybe his group is not supporting the President but this will be decided on the assembly. But I believe we should meet once and for all to settle  this issue,” he added.

In a meeting on May 31, the PDP-Laban national council, led by Cusi, adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections and choose the party's standard bearer.

This move is not welcomed by Pacquiao and Pimentel, claiming the meeting was unauthorized.

Another PDP-Laban national council meeting led by Cusi is set to be held on July 16 and a national assembly on July 17 where the party members are reportedly set to elect new set of party leaders.

Pimentel and Pacquiao earlier said that they will not attend the July 17 assembly.

In response to Cusi’s statement saying the July 16 and 17 PDP-Laban events will push through, Pimentel said Cusi should check the “real and genuine party members” first before rushing into holding national assemblies.

“Sec. Cusi should not rush “party meetings” and should instead focus on and make sure the attendees are people who are “real/authentic/genuine” party members and not those who simply had themselves identified with PDP Laban but whose “heart/loyalty” belongs to some other existing political party just waiting for and wanting PDP LABAN to implode and after the 2022 elections will just wave “bye bye” to the party,” Pimentel said in a text message shared to reporters.

He earlier pointed out to Cusi that the ruling party has “grew too large, too fast,” adding that there are members who have not even completed their membership requirements yet.

In the same television interview on Tuesday morning, Cusi said these meetings are being held so that the party can comply with the Commission on Elections’ deadlines set for the 2022 elections.—AOL, GMA News