Cusi faction wants accounting of PDP-Laban funds from Pimentel group

The PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has asked for an accounting of the ruling party’s funds from the treasurer appointed by former party president, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

“PDP Laban has demanded an accounting of party funds that are in [possession] of Mr. Evan Rebadulla, a person appointed by SKP to supposedly act as party treasurer,” Atty. Melvin Matibag said in a virtual press conference Thursday.

Matibag is the secretary-general of the Cusi faction of the ruling party.

“We call on Mr. Rebadulla to heed the party’s call. His obligation to account is a statutory obligation. We want to know who used our party’s funds and for what purpose,” Matibag said.

According to Matibag, their group is expecting around P100 million party funds that were collected by Pimentel's group.

"They have been mentioning that we have 100,000 members and they’ve been saying that a member in good standing should be paying the membership dues which is P1,000 so if it’s 100,000 members, then we’re looking at P100 million," he said.

Matibag’s call, however, was turned down by Pimentel.

“A Treasurer’s Report will be given during our National Assembly in Sept 2021. Nasa agenda na po yan (It is already part of the agenda),” Pimentel said.

On Wednesday, Pimentel said their faction would hold a national assembly tentatively scheduled on September 18.

They are also eyeing the nomination of Senator Manny Pacquiao as their party’s standard bearer in the same event.

There has been an ongoing feud within the PDP-Laban, which resulted in having two factions, the camp of Pimentel, which has been supportive of Pacquiao, and of Cusi, who is elected by his allies as president of the ruling party.

Cusi’s wing is pushing Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte to run for president and vice president, respectively, in the 2022 polls.

Pacquiao and Cusi have both been asserting influence over PDP-Laban after the Energy secretary organized party meetings and assemblies without Pacquiao and Pimentel’s permission. —NB, GMA News