Pacquiao bares offers from other parties but not yet done teaching PDP-Laban mates a lesson

Despite offers from other parties to adopt him, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday said he will have to stay with the PDP-Laban a little bit longer to teach its erring members a lesson or two.

Pacquiao disclosed this after being asked if he has a back-up plan in case he gets ousted as PDP-Laban president.

“Marami pong naaawa sa akin at open ang doors nila sa akin para lumipat sa kanilang partido. Maraming salamat pero gusto ko lang pong ipaalam na nandito pa po ako sa PDP at gusto ko po ayusin at turuan ang mga tiwaling miyembro ng partido na ito,” he said.

(A lot of parties feel pity towards me and they opened their doors for me. I thank them for the offer but I want them to know that I am still with PDP and I want to I want to fix and teach our other partymates a lesson.)

Pacquiao refused to name the political parties when pressed to disclose information about the matter.

But when asked if he'd consider joining the opposition, Pacquiao said he is willing to make any political move that will unite the Filipino people.

“Itong ginagawa natin dito is unity because I always believe that in unity, there is victory. We will fail if we are divided but we succeed if we are united. Anumang kulay mo, anumang partido po kung ikaw ay may layunin sa bansa na umunlad, magkaisa tayong lahat para sumikat ang bagong umaga sa ating bansa,” he said.

(What we are doing here is to unite our country because I always believe that in unity, there is victory. We will fail if we are divided but we succeed if we are united. Whatever your political color is, we must unite so that we can see a better future.)

Pacquiao is currently at odds with President Rodrigo Duterte— PDP-Laban’s chairman.

The lawmaker asserts authority over the party while PDP-Laban vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi led some of their partymates in passing resolutions that are “not sanctioned” by Pacquiao and PDP-Laban executive vice chairman Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

On Tuesday, Cusi told Pacquiao to leave the ruling party first before launching criticism against President Rodrigo Duterte—the party chairman.

Pacquiao then turned the tables and told Cusi to follow their bylaws and rules or else he should leave the party.

On May 31, the PDP-Laban council suggested holding another meeting on July 16. They also suggested having a national assembly on July 17 for electing their party officers.

PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag earlier said possibilities to elect party officials might be discussed during the July 17 assembly.

This will include the possibility of replacing Pacquiao as acting president of the party. -MDM, GMA News