Pacquiao warned of expulsion from PDP-Laban over regional party moves

Senator Manny Pacquiao may be expelled from the PDP-Laban after he reportedly started to convert his regional party into a national political organization, an official of a rival party faction said on Thursday.

Atty. Melvin Matibag, the elected secretary general of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, cited supposed news reports that Pacquiao was converting his People's Champ Movement into a national party.

“News quoting reliable sources said Pacquiao is allegedly converting the People's Champ Movement (PCM), his regional political party, into a national political party, a major ground for expulsion from his membership in the PDP-Laban,” Matibag said in a statement.

Pacquiao's spokesman former Negros Occidental Rep. Monico Puentevella denied the allegation.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on "24 Oras", Pacquiao would stay with PDP-Laban even with the intramurals between the factions.

"Wala na ba silang maisip? Gusto na nilang tanggalin, gagamitan pa nila ng kalokohan para lang tanggalin si Senator Pacquiao," Puentevella said.

Senator Koko Pimentel, an ally of Pacquiao faction, said the expulsion warning was a "bluff" that was meant to distract Pacquiao in his upcoming fight.

"This is the first time that a group of Filipinos, because of politics, has organized an effort meant to distract our Pambansang Kamao while he fights in the boxing ring to bring additional honor to our country," Pimentel, son of PDP-Laban founder, late former Senate President Nene Pimentel, wrote on Twitter.

"How unpatriotic of this group of politicians!" he further expressed his frustration.

Matibag provided photos of “unofficial” documents showing the supposed minutes of PCM's meeting last December 20, 2020 held at Pacquiao Compound, NLSA Road, Lagao, General Santos CIty.

Based on the documents, the meeting was attended by PCM Central Committee members led by Pacquiao, together with the party Executive Vice President Rogelio D. Pacquiao, Secretary General Raul C. Martinez, Treasurer Reynaldo F. Constantino, and Auditor Victor James B. Yap, among others.

The photos also showed that the PCM has included the following matters in its December 20, 2020 agenda:

• Reorganization of PCM
• Amendment of the [Constitution and By-Law] as National Political PArty
• Adoption and Rartification of the Amended CBL as a National Political Party
• Election of Officers

But Pimentel said the documents showed that within days of becoming PDP-Laban's party president, Pacquiao gave up his leadership of the PCM.

"This was an act which was not even required of him to do," said Pimentel.

The factions led by Pacquiao and Cusi have been asserting their respective authority over the ruling party since May when the Energy chief called for a national assembly without the lawmaker's consent.

In a national assembly held by Cusi’s camp last July 17, Pacquiao’s position as PDP-Laban president was declared vacant.

The PDP-Laban members eventually voted Cusi the party’s new president. They also voted new officers for other national positions.

President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of PDP-Laban, had attended the party's national assembly.

Pacquiao is currently training in the United States to prepare for his August 21 fight against Cuban Yordens Ugas.

He was supposed to face American boxer Errol Spence Jr., but the latter pulled out from the fight due to a retinal tear. —NB/LDF, GMA News