No moves to expel Duterte from PDP-Laban –Pimentel

Despite President Rodrigo Duterte's ongoing rift with Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said on Sunday that there were no plans to expel the President from the PDP-Laban during the party's national assembly.

"Ang sabi ko sa party-mates ko, we should not weaponize expulsion. 'Yung ine-expel sa partido yung may ginawa na sobra-sobra laban sa interes ng partido. Hinay-hinay lang sa expulsion," said Pimentel over Super Radyo dzBB, when asked if there would be a motion to expel Duterte from the party.

(I told my party-mates not to weaponize expulsion. Those being expelled should be found to be working against the interests of the party. Take it easy on expulsions.)

Duterte recently accepted the vice-presidential nomination of the PDP-Laban's faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Duterte's running mate Senator Bong Go, however, declined the nomination for the presidency.

But Pimentel's PDP-Laban group had expelled Cusi and two other fellow members of the ruling party.

Pimentel's faction is set to hold the party's 11th national assembly on Sunday afternoon. Pimentel did not give any details but he expects his party-mates to nominate Pacquiao as the party's presidential bet for 2022.

The Cusi-led faction held PDP-Laban national council meetings and assemblies without the blessing of Pacquiao and Pimentel.

The Pimentel-Pacquiao’s faction also recently elected Pimentel as party chairman, replacing Duterte.

The Cusi-led group also filed a petition to declare Pacquiao and Pimentel as illegal representatives of their party. — DVM, GMA News