Pacquiao says Cusi is eyeing executive secretary post; Cusi declines to comment

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is allegedly eyeing the executive secretary post next year should the bet of the latter's faction win in Eleksyon 2022.

"Ito kasing si Cusi, para malaman ng tao, gusto niyang mahawakan, ma-control ang PDP party para kung sino ang manalong Presidente, i-package niya, makahingi siya ng mataas na posisyon especially 'yung hinahangad niya na maging executive secretary siya. 'Yun ang gusto niya," Pacquiao said in a radio interview.

(This Cusi, for the information of everyone, wants to control the PDP party so whoever will win as President, he will package it such that he can ask to be appointed to a high position in government especially the executive secretary post he is desiring. That's what he wants.)

Pacquiao, who is the president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party according to his faction, added that Cusi wants to use the party as a "stepping stone" for his career.

"Itong partido, hindi ito para sa sariling kapakanan lang, kundi para sa masang Pilipino, para sa mga kababayan na naagrabyado at naghihirap at nagugutom," he added.

(The party is not for one's personal welfare, but rather for the Filipino masses, for countrymen who are aggrieved, poor, and hungry.)

Pacquiao said he learned about Cusi's alleged motive through inside information.

"Marami tayong information sa loob. Nagli-leak naman 'yan," he said.

(We have a lot of information from inside [the Cusi faction]. The information is leaked out.)

Asked for his side on Sunday, Cusi told GMA News Online he has no comment on the matter.

In July, the faction led by Cusi ousted Pacquiao as party president. Cusi was installed as PDP-Laban president.

Last month, however, the Pacquiao faction ousted President Rodrigo Duterte as party chairman and installed as chair Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, son of PDP-Laban founder former Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. 

Pacquiao on Sunday however stressed that is faction is the "legal" one. 

"Kami ang legal mula na i-establish ito," the senator said, adding that the original members are with him.

(We are the legal [party] since it was established.)

Pacquiao, who is still undergoing quarantine after he arrived in Manila on August 30 following his boxing fight in Las Vegas against Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight championship, said he will give an announcement regarding his plans for his boxing career and Eleksyon 2022 after his 10-day quarantine.

On Sunday he said he will announce his plans most likely on the third week of September at around the same time the PDP-Laban will hold its national convention. —with a report from Consuelo Marquez/KG, GMA News