Pimentel insists on faction's legitimacy; vows to fight hijackers of PDP-Laban

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Sunday insisted that they were the legitimate representatives of PDP-Laban and that they would fight hijackers of their party.

The PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Chief Alfonso Cusi had earlier filed a petition before the Comelec to declare Pimentel and Senator Manny Pacquiao as illegitimate party members.

But Pimentel said their current national assembly was a "constitutionally-protected" gathering. The Pimentel faction assembly took place 11 days after Cusi's faction's gathering, during which President Rodrigo Duterte was declared their vice-presidential candidate

"Happy din tayo dahil makabuluhan ang gagawin ngayong araw. Today we will honor our party founder Senate President Nene Pimentel. Sa PDP-Laban, we give credit where credit is due," said Pimentel during the PDP-Laban 11th National Assembly, which he led.

(We are please because what we are doing today is meaningful.)

Pimentel is the party chairman of his faction, replacing Duterte.

"Today, we formally fight back against hijackers. We will formally declare as correct what we have been doing all along," Pimentel added.

The senator also likened their party to a car, which he said the Cusi-led faction is trying to hijack.

"Ang dami nilang sasakyan. Ang swapang nila. Hindi natin papayagan ang pag-hijack ng partido," said Pimentel.

(They have so many vehicles. They are very greedy. We won't let them hijack our party.)

"Tayong lahat, isa lang ang partido natin. Ang PDP Laban, yung kabila, patalon talon na partido. If convenient for them, they will join. if no longer convenient they will destroy," he added.

(We are only one party. The other faction's members jump from one party to the next. )

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

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