Duterte says Koko a failed strategist, sees Pacquiao as puppet

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday accused Senator Koko Pimentel of mismanaging the ruling party PDP-Laban by naming Senator Manny Pacquiao, who the chief executive said does not have his own mind, as acting party president.

“Walang diskarte na tama (Koko never had a good tactic). I don’t know what pushed him to place Pacquiao as acting President. You have to elect... iyong biglaan na ano, doon nagka-watak-watak (it cannot be sudden, that's why it broke apart),” Duterte said during PDP-Laban meeting in Clark, Pampanga which ousted Pacquiao as party leader and installed Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi in his place.

“Ang nagkamali diyan, si Koko, hindi si Pacquiao. Pacquiao does not know anything. Hindi naman nagbabasa ‘yan. Kung ano lang sabihin ng ano niya, sunod [siya],” Duterte added.

(Koko was the one who made a mistake, not Pacquiao. Pacquiao does not know anything. He does not read and just follows what his people tell him.)

Pacquiao was named PDP-Laban President in December 2020 alongside Speaker Lord Allan Velasco who was named PDP-Laban Executive Vice President.

Both Pacquiao and Velasco were replaced during the Clark meeting, but the party did  not give a concrete reason why it took them seven months to replace Pacquiao, Velasco, among others.

Unlike Pacquiao who was not present during the Clark,  Velasco was physically present.

“Cusi did not like it [with Pacquiao at the helm], so it spiraled into more vicious narrative of charges and counter charges,” Duterte said.

In closing, Duterte belittled Senator Koko and his late father, former Senator Nene Pimentel, one of the founders of PDP-Laban who fought the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

“It (party) was sleeping until I ran for President [under the party]? It is a father and son party,” Duterte said.

“They are not even well known in Cagayan de Oro where they are from. This is not an insult. It is the truth. They cannot win there, even just for a barangay captain race,” Duterte added. -MDM/RSJ, GMA News