Matibag: Pacquiao running under PROMDI defies logic, PDP-Laban Constitution

Melvin Matibag, secretary-general of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, on Monday said Senator Manny Pacquiao’s decision to run for president under PROMDI party defies logic and the PDP-Laban Constitution.

In a CNN Philippines interview, Matibag asked why the group of Pacquiao and his political ally, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, chose to have Pacquiao run as standard bearer of a “minority party” which is “not even strong and active.”

“So medyo impractical yata kasi it defies logic, it defies the Constitution. So, I don’t know kung saan nanggagling ang interpretation ni Sen. Pimentel,” Matibag said.

(So it is quite impractical because it defies logic, it defies the Constitution. So I don’t know where Senator Pimentel’s interpretation came from.)

“Du’n pa lang po kung sinasabing di sila confident, naniniguro sila e, mahirap naman po ‘yon tindigan mo ‘yung partido mo. You’ve been saying may prinsipyo ka e, sa amin ang partido na to e, then you [take] the gamble 'di ba po? You take the gamble ilaban yan mo sa [Commission on Elections],” Matibag said.

(It will be difficult if they lack confidence and they are playing safe with the party. You’ve been saying you have principles and you have the rights over this party, then you should take the gamble. You take the gamble and fight for it before the Comelec.)

Matibag refuted Pimentel’s argument that Pacquiao can run under PROMDI on the basis of PDP-Laban’s resolution providing its alliance with the Cebu-based party.

He said the MP3 or the PDP-Laban, PROMDI, and People’s Champ Movement alliance was not even a recognized coalition by the Comelec.

“Let’s ask them if nag-rehistro ba sila sa (if they are registered with the) Comelec. I’m sure hindi kasi (they did not because) the period to register a coalition already expired long time ago,” he said.

Under the Comelec’s official calendar, the last day for filing of petitions for registrations of coalition of political parties was on May 31, 2021.

The agreement on the MP3 alliance was signed in September.

Moreover, Matibag said the PDP Resolution which Pimentel has cited cannot overrule the Constitution of the party.

“There is an elementary rule in law na ang Constitution ay hindi lagpasan ng isang resolution ‘yan. While it is true that the Constitution also allows PDP-Laban to enter into an agreement, ‘di ibig sabihin ibibigay ang karapatan na sige takbo ka sa isang partido,” he said.

(There is an elementary rule in law that the Constitution cannot be overruled by a mere resolution. While it is true that the Constitution also allows PDP-Laban to enter into an agreement, that doesn’t mean that you are allowed to run under a different party.)

Over the weekend, Cusi’s wing has issued a statement on the “automatic” expulsion of Pacquiao following his filing of certificate of candidacy under PROMDI.

In a separate media interview, Matibag said they will give a rejoinder on the petition they filed before the Comelec, asking the body to declare the faction of Pacquiao as illegitimate.

He said they will also request the poll body to issue a restraining order against the two senators which will bar them from presenting themselves as legitimate members of the PDP-Laban.

Matibag was also asked about the certificate of nomination and acceptance of PDP-Laban’s presidential bet which was reportedly signed already by Cusi.

He said their presidential bet is already a member of the PDP-Laban, adding that non-members of the party cannot be nominated to run for an elective post.

“By the end of the filing on Friday, PDP will have a standard bearer,” Matibag said.

The PDP-Laban official maintained that the selection of their standard bearer is still compliant with the party’s process, citing the resolution that they passed which authorized their chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, to pick his bets to the unfilled elective positions.

Earlier today, Cusi said they will push for the tandem of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Senator Bong Go if Duterte says so.

Last Saturday, Go has filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president under PDP-Laban’s banner.

After the filing of Go’s COC, President Duterte said, in an ambush interview, that they will push for the “Sara-Go” tandem.

On the same day, however, Sara has filed her COC for mayor of Davao City.

The presidential daughter  said "no comment" when asked about the Sara-Go tandem.

In a previous interview, Sara said she has an agreement with her father that only one of them will run for a national post in next year’s polls.

Meanwhile, Go had confirmed to be Sara’s running mate should the latter decide to run for president in the 2022 elections.—AOL, GMA News