Pacquiao-led PDP-Laban faction to elect new officers in nat’l convention set on September 19

The PDP-Laban faction led by Senator Manny Pacquiao will elect a new set of officers in a national convention scheduled on September 19.

“Ang pagkakalam ko, mayroon kaming convention na pinapatawag ngayong September 19. Abangan po ninyo, mag-eelect po kami ng bagong officers ng partido,” Pacquiao said in a virtual press conference.

(What I know is we are calling for a convention this September 19. We will be electing new set of officers of the party.)

The lawmaker announced this the same day that the PDP-Laban group led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is set to hold a national convention in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Cusi faction will announce its senatorial bets today, September 8.

Pacquiao also insisted that they are the legitimate PDP-Laban after the Cusi-led wing filed a petition against them with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Pacquiao, backed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, has been asserting his authority over the PDP-Laban, saying he is the “legitimate” president of the ruling party.

This, as Cusi’s group pushed for PDP-Laban national council meetings and assemblies without the blessing of Pacquiao and Pimentel.

In July, Pacquiao's group expelled Cusi and Melvin Matibag from the party. Days later, Cusi's group ousted Pacquiao as PDP-Laban president.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s faction recently elected Pimentel as the party chairman, replacing President Rodrigo Duterte.

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

On the other hand, Pacquiao is being pushed by the group of Senator Pimentel to vie the country’s top post.—AOL, GMA News