Cusi remains legit PDP-Laban leader despite Pacquiao-led expulsion –Palace

Malacañang said Monday that President Rodrigo Duterte recognized the leadership of Energy Secretary Al Cusi as Vice Chairman of PDP-Laban despite Cusi being ousted by party members led by PDP-Laban President Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The Palace added that Duterte would be attending the July 17 party meeting in Clark.

Pacquiao and his allies issued the party resolution expelling Cusi as PDP-Laban Vice Chairman as well as kicking out PDP-Laban deputy secretary-general Melvin Matibag and PDP-Laban membership committee head Astra Naik over alleged violations of the party’s by-laws and constitution by “showing allegiance to a political party apart from PDP Laban.”

Likewise, Pacquiao and his allies also issued resolutions invalidating what transpired in the previous two PDP-Laban meetings during which several party members prodded President Duterte to run for Vice President in 2022.

In those meetings, it was unclear if Pacquiao and his allies in PDP-Laban were invited.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque meanwhile reiterated that the President’s position that the PDP-Laban dispute would be resolved legally, under the jurisdiction of the Commission of Elections, had not changed.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who serves as PDP-Laban’s Executive Vice President, is supportive of Pacquiao’s 2022 Presidential bid. — DVM, GMA News